Mississippi Severe Weather Preparedness Week

February 9-15, 2025 is Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week in Mississippi. The National Weather Service, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and other supporting organizations ask for your help in providing the public with information about severe weather safety. Advanced planning and increased awareness will help residents of Mississippi survive these deadly storms.

Severe weather watches and warnings are ineffective if the public does not receive the message or is not knowledgeable of the safety procedures to follow. The purpose of Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week is to provide people with the knowledge necessary to protect their lives when severe weather threatens.

Whether in the form of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, or flash floods, severe weather can develop very quickly. Once a tornado approaches, or flooding develops, it is too late to start working on a preparedness plan. When severe weather develops, and warnings are issued, we must take immediate action to protect ourselves. Preparing for severe weather is the theme of this program.

Mississippi Spring 2025 Severe Weather Preparedness Week Schedule
 

Sunday February 9th - Make a Plan

Monday February 10th - Severe Thunderstorms

Tuesday February 11th - Flash Flooding

Wednesday February 12th - Tornado Safety (9:15 AM Statewide Tornado Drill)

Thursday February 13th - Lightning

Friday February 14th - Alerts and Warnings

Saturday February 15th - Mobile Home/Manufactured Home Tornado Safety

Make a Plan

So how does one prepare for severe weather? For a severe weather preparedness plan to be successful, it must include the following:

• knowledge of terminology such as watches and warnings,
• a thorough knowledge of safety rules to follow when severe weather strikes,
• a reliable method of receiving emergency information,
• the designation of an appropriate shelter,
• and drills to test the plan.

Tornado Drill on Wednesday, February 12th.

This will be conducted at 9:15 am. We strongly encourage local emergency managers, school officials, businesses, and home owners to participate in this drill. The best way to learn what to do when severe weather approaches is to practice when the weather is not threatening.

Additional Information

Here are a couple of links to helpful information: Mississippi Tornado Statistics and NOAA Weather Radio

You are also invited to contact the National Weather Service for interviews, information, or answers to any questions you may have. In many instances, we are also able to present severe weather awareness programs to civic and industrial organizations, schools, amateur radio clubs, and hospital staffs.

For more information, contact any of the following:

• Michael Hill, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
  National Weather Service Office: Jackson, MS
  601-936-2189

• Todd Beal, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
  National Weather Service Office: Memphis, TN
  901-544-0405 or 0401

• Jessica Chace, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
  National Weather Service Office: Mobile, AL
  251-633-6443 ext. 223

• Lauren Nash, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
  National Weather Service Office: New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA
  985-645-0899

• Malary White
  Mississippi Emergency Management Agency External Affairs
  601-933-6841