Winter weather has become a frequent late visitor to southcentral Kentucky.

With spring slated to start in a few short weeks, the region (and much of the country) was hit with an icy blast and snow. Temperatures dropped to the single digits and several inches of snow enveloped the region.

It’s not the first time that old man winter has come to the region with spring just around the corner.

The winter blast followed torrential rains that caused widespread flooding and even some fatalities in the region.

While that weather provided some days off for students and some workers, there were a group of individuals who were busier than ever.

From police officers and firefighters to public works employees (and certainly many others), these public servants did their best to ensure our safety, clear our roads and generally make the bad weather tolerable.

While those individuals work year round for our benefit, recent weather reminds us to be grateful for their efforts.

The severe weather also serves as a reminder to be weather alert and weather prepared.

While we assume we will have advanced warning of severe weather, the December 2021 tornadoes that devastated much of the region show otherwise.

While severe weather warnings often, thankfully, are not followed by the worst-case scenario, these warnings should never be ignored.

Being prepared for severe weather can take many forms.

When it comes to flood events like the recent one, the adage of “turn around, don’t drown,” is especially important to heed.

Flood waters can be deceptively deep, and it’s better to not take a chance on driving through them.

As for driving in the snow, going at a slow and steady pace is key if you must get on the roads. Leave extra time to get to your destination.

While we never know what the next severe weather event will be, we can make sure we are thankful for those who help us through them while doing all we can to be prepared for the worst.