Set for Wednesday is a statewide tornado drill as Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared March 17 through March 23 Michigan Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Berrien County Emergency Management Coordinator Rockey Adams tells us he hopes people use the statewide drill to plan ahead.
“We hope that the tornado drill will bring some broader conversation about emergency preparedness, particularly with tornadoes and severe storms, where people think about whether they have a plan, where will they go, what will they do, and do they know what the alert systems are in their area and how they communicate together,” Adams said.
Berrien County won’t sound its sirens during the drill, but Adams says it’s a good chance for workplaces to talk about their procedures for tornadoes. The same applies in the home.
Adams says you should understand the differences between different severe weather warnings and know how to receive them.
“It’s a good idea to invest in a NOAA weather radio as well. These are all alert systems that are designed to wake you up and also to give you really valuable information inside your home where you’re going to need it.”
Adams also recommends knowing where you’ll go in the event of a tornado.
Adams notes Berrien County generally doesn’t get strong tornadoes, but it has had about 30 tornadoes since the county started keeping track back in the 60s. A twister in 2017 did some damage in Niles, although there were no injuries. The statewide drill is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.
