A statewide tornado drill will be held on Wednesday, March 24th at 1:00 p.m. This is Severe Weather Awareness Week and it’s time to prepare for spring and summer severe weather.
The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is asking residents to be prepared for tornado season. The questions for disaster readiness are: Do you have a plan? Where will you go? What will you do? Do you know the alert systems in your area? How will you communicate?
Tornado season generally runs from April to July, with most tornadoes occurring between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Michigan’s “tornado alley” is from Grand Rapids to Flint, but the Blue Water Area has had some strong tornadoes on record.
A Tornado Watch means that conditions are conducive to the development of a tornado. A Tornado Warning means that a tornado had actually been spotted. When a tornado is threatening, the safest place in a home is a basement or the central area of the home in a small room or under sturdy furniture. Mobile home residents should evacuate and find a stronger structure.
Tornado information: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp-tornado_tips_8781_7.pdf.
Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland
