OTTAWA – Severe Weather Awareness Week in Franklin County has started with a bang, with a series of thunderstorms beginning over the weekend. Last night, a severe thunderstorm dumped 1.14 of an inch of rain on Ottawa. Officials are planning for what looks like could be an unusually nasty spring. But county emergency management director Alan Radcliffe said the public needs to have a family plan for bad weather too. Because there are few public storm shelters, families need to check with families, friends and neighbors about using their shelters if necessary, he said. As part of the week, the county’s weather sirens were to sound at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, weather permitting.
