Each year, IDHS collaborates with the National Weather Service (NWS) during Severe Weather Preparedness Week to remind and educate Hoosiers about seasonal severe weather threats and how to effectively prepare for them.
Throughout the week, IDHS will share severe weather safety tips on social media. Follow IDHS and use the hashtags #SevereWx and #SWPW!
Quick Tips
When you hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning. Go indoors when you hear thunder.
Consider how you would be alerted if there were a tornado warning. Sirens are meant to be heard outside and cannot be relied on if you are indoors. Have a NOAA weather radio or weather alert app.
Have a location designated as your safe spot regardless of what kind of building you are in. A basement or storm shelter is best, but an interior room, stairway or hall without a window or door to the outside is acceptable.
Find out what flood insurance coverage would cost to add to your policy for your home. New policies take 30 days to become effective, so you need to add coverage well before any anticipated flooding.
Know how to be alerted to possible severe weather, make a plan of where to take shelter or evacuate, and keep an emergency disaster kit ready at all times.
Statewide Tornado Drill
Every Hoosier business, school and family should participate in the statewide tornado drill each year. The drill allows you to practice where to go, what to do and what to take so you are prepared in the event of a real tornado warning.
At about 10:15 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, NWS will issue a test tornado warning alert, which will be shared through most notification systems, including the statewide Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Wherever you are at that time, practice your tornado safety plan. There will be no follow-up alerts issued by the NWS to mark the end of the statewide tornado drill. It ends when your business, school or family feels that you have adequately practiced your safety procedures.
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