Michigan State Police are planning a statewide tornado drill for next week.
MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division spokesperson Clayton Cummins tells us it’s an all-voluntary opportunity for anyone in the state to prepare for the event of a tornado that just happens to come a little more than a week after tornadoes ripped through Southwest Michigan.
“It’s just a time for families to kind of part for a moment and refamiliarize themselves with what’s the plan when a severe thunderstorm and/or tornado is nearby,” Cummins said. “What do you do? Where do you go?”
Cummins says organizations of all kinds are encouraged to talk severe weather preparedness as part of the drill. He tells us to be ready for something like a tornado, it’s key to pay attention to the weather conditions.
“Keep an eye on the radar that day, make sure you got your favorite weather app downloaded and the push notifications turned on for that. So, certainly on days where thunderstorms are in the forecast is key.”
As part of this statewide drill, Cummins says emergency sirens will not be sounded and there won’t be any Emergency Alert System tones. This is strictly voluntary.
The drill is set for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18. It’s being held just after Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared March 15 through March 21 “Michigan Severe Weather Awareness Week.”
You can find more information on emergency preparedness right here.
