What to do this Severe Weather Preparedness Week

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Officials are encouraging residents and businesses to use this week to ensure they are prepared for severe weather that could come along with warmer temperatures.

Governor Mike Braun proclaimed March 9-15, 2025 to be Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the state of Indiana.

Get more here

You can get complete details from the NWS here. There is also a fun-filled kids’ guide to understanding severe weather and its many warnings and alerts

Indiana Homeland Security released the following:

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.

Storms, floods and tornadoes are common occurrences to Hoosiers. Practice these tips below to stay prepared for these weather events and not only minimize their effects, but also save lives.

The National Weather Service, in conjunction with the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Broadcasters Association, the American Red Cross, and Amateur Radio Operators will conduct a statewide test of communication systems on Tuesday, March 11 at 10:15 AM EDT/9:15 AM CDT.

Important Notes – while the drill will be sent using live TOR EAS coding (Tornado Warning), it is only a test, and will be postponed to Wednesday, March 12 if weather conditions warrant.  The test warning will activate the Emergency Alert System(EAS) and include SAME activation on NOAA Weather Radio, but will NOT trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA).  (NWS Wilmington, OH will send the test for their Indiana counties using the RWT coding, per an agreement with their Cincinnati broadcast market partners)

As part of NWS efforts to build a Weather Ready Nation, the goal of Severe Weather Preparedness Week is to better educate people about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and to help everyone be prepared when severe weather occurs.

Each day will focus on a different topic.  NWS Indianapolis will make approximately 5-6 posts via social media throughout each day of Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Visit us on Facebook and X (@NWSIndianapolis) for information on the following themes:

• Sunday: Weather Ready Nation
• Monday: Severe Weather Outlooks and Watches
• Tuesday: Severe Weather Warnings and Tornadoes (Statewide Tornado Drill Day)
• Wednesday: Other Types of Severe Weather Hazards
• Thursday: Flooding
• Friday: Response and Recovery
• Saturday: Recap of Severe Weather Preparedness Week

For information on National Weather Service Impact-Based Warnings (IBW) and what their content indicates, click here.

Click here for a kids’ activity booklet from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Severe weather safety information in Spanish can be found here.  Aquí encontrará información en español sobre seguridad en caso de inclemencias meteorológicas.

Know the difference between a watch and a warning, and the definitions of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, Tornado Warnings, and Flash Flood Warnings!