(WWJ) - Are you ready for severe weather?
Michigan’s Severe Weather Awareness Week runs from March 16 until March 22, and officials are encouraging people to have a plan for severe weather.
A voluntary state-wide tornado drill is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 19. At that time, tornado sirens will turn on across the state. Schools around Michigan will hold tornado drills when the sirens go off, and MIREADY, created by the MSP, is hoping everyone will take the time to create a plan for a real tornado.
Tornados can occur throughout the year, but they are most prevalent in the late spring and early summer. The National Weather Service says Michigan averages 15 tornadoes each year. The average lead time for the development of a tornado is 10 to 15 minutes.
According to MIREADY’s website, everyone should know where they’ll go in the event of severe weather, how they’ll communicate with others and get information in and what the alerts are in the area. Recognizing the signs that a tornado is approaching is also vital.
Every household should have a kit ready to go. The website includes a checklist for the home, car and pets.
MIREADY also includes ways to prepare for other disasters, from blizzards to hazardous materials to terrorism.
Local governments around the state have issued alerts about what to do during severe weather, and many have additional resources and tips listed.
The Severe Weather Awareness Week comes on the heels of deadly storms that tore through the south and Midwest, killing dozens and leaving many injured. Many businesses and houses were destroyed as the storms swept through the area.