PEARL, Miss. (MEMA) – Governor Tate Reeves has declared October 2-7, 2023, Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi.
“Preparation can be lifesaving when it comes to severe weather,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “I encourage you to take some time this week to learn how to better prepare your family for when severe weather strikes.”
A record-breaking 136 tornadoes touched down in Mississippi in 2022. In the Spring of 2023, 50 tornadoes touched down, including an EF-4 tornado in Rolling Fork and an EF-3 tornado in Amory. While the Spring is the most active time for tornadoes, Mississippi usually sees significant storms during this secondary severe weather season from November through December.
“We urge residents to prepare for the upcoming secondary severe weather season. Prepare by checking insurance policies, building a disaster supply kit, and reviewing emergency plans with your family,” says MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney.
To promote severe weather preparedness, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is partnering with the National Weather Service to highlight different hazards and ways to prepare for the upcoming secondary severe weather season.
Here is the list of this year’s featured topics:
- Monday, October 2: Make A Plan
- Tuesday, October 3: Severe Thunderstorms
- Wednesday, October 4: Tornado Safety: A statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 9:15 AM weather, pending.
- Thursday, October 5: Flash Flooding
- Friday, October 6: Warning Reception Methods
- Saturday, October 7: Mobile Home Safety
Each day of the week, MEMA will share messaging on these topics on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Your National Weather Service offices will also share additional severe weather information. Four National Weather Service offices cover Mississippi: Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans, and Mobile. A copy of the Governor’s proclamation can be found here. More severe weather preparedness tips can be found on our website: www.msema.org.
A video explaining the Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week campaign can be found at the following link: https://youtu.be/zZaZjiexp4g
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