( KNZA ) -- Although the winter season remains in place, officials say preparations should be made for the approaching spring and the severe weather it will likely bring with it.

Governor Sam Brownback has declared March 3-9th as “ Severe Weather Awareness Week” in Kansas, and the statewide tornado safety drill will take place Tuesday afternoon at 1:30.

Chad Omitt, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Topeka says the tornado season began on February 28th last year.  One of the eight tornadoes occurring that day struck the town of Harveyville resulting in one fatality and 12 injuries.

94 tornadoes were reported in Kansas last year, with majority of those occurring in April.

While we often focus on tornadoes, Omitt says he feels lightning is one of biggest dangers of severe thunderstorms..

He says when lightning is near, seek shelter in a sturdy building or hard-topped vehicle.

Omitt adds most of the property damage in Kansas resulting from severe thunderstorms is actually from straight-line winds not tornadoes.

The National Weather Service in Topeka is holding Storm Spotter Presentations  March 13th in Jackson County at the Jackson County Senior Citizens Building in Holton ; March 20th in Jefferson County at the Oskaloosa Middle School; March 21st in Marshall County at the Community Center in Waterville; March 25th in Nemaha County at the Community Building in Sabetha, and April 2nd in Brown County at the Fisher Center in Hiawatha.  All the meetings will take place at 7 p.m.