LANSING, Mich. — With this being Severe Weather Awareness Week, the Michigan State Police are sharing some valuable tips for how you can best prepare for Tornadoes that may impact your community.
“While tornadoes can happen any time of the year, they are especially common in late spring and early summer,” said Capt. Emmitt McGowan, deputy state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the MSP/EMHSD.
With the Tornado Drill coming this Wednesday at 1PM, you will observe or hear alerts on NOAA Weather Radios, TV and radio stations. To learn how local alerts are administrated in your community and if your community is participating, contact your local emergency management agency.
The average lead time for tornadoes to develop is 10 to 15 minutes, which means you need to be ready to react quickly when a warning is issued.
To be ready for a tornado:
- Know the difference: Tornado Watch means conditions exist for a tornado to develop; Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
- Know the signs of an approaching tornado: dark, often greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark low-lying cloud; and loud roar, like a freight train.
- Develop an emergency preparedness kit with essential items such as a three-day supply of water and food, a NOAA Weather Radio, important family documents and items that satisfy unique family needs.
- Conduct regular tornado drills. Make sure each household member knows where to go and what to do in the event of a tornado.
- Stay tuned to commercial radio or television broadcasts for news on changing weather conditions or approaching storms.
