Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week
Mississippi Gov. Reeves has declared Feb. 14-19 as Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi. Just last year, 76 tornadoes were confirmed in Mississippi, 50 of those occurring during the spring. May was the most active month last year, with a total of 27 tornadoes, breaking that month’s record of tornadoes since 1950.
“Knowing the precautions to take in advance of severe weather saves lives,” said Reeves. “I encourage all Mississippians to review their existing severe whether preparedness plan or create one if you haven’t already done so. The best way to stay safe is to have a plan in place before disaster strikes.”
“It’s important to remember that severe weather extends far beyond just tornadoes. Damaging wind, hail, flooding, and lightning are also dangerous hazards associated with severe weather and Mississippi experiences it all,” says MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney.
Topics for Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week:
| Monday | Severe Thunderstorms |
| Tuesday | Flash Flooding |
| Wednesday | Tornadoes (Statewide Tornado Drill at 9:15 am) |
| Thursday | Lightning |
| Friday | Alerts and Warnings |
| Saturday | Mobile Home Safety |
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is partnering with the National Weather Service to highlight different types of severe weather and ways to prepare for the upcoming spring severe weather season. MEMA urges all Mississippians to have a disaster supply kit stocked with food and water year-round. It is also important to know a safe place to seek shelter when severe weather is in your area.
Each day of Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week, MEMA will post trivia questions and short videos on these topics. These videos will be posted on MEMA’s Facebook and Twitter pages as well as MEMA’s YouTube page. Your local National Weather Service offices will also share additional severe weather information. Four National Weather Service offices cover Mississippi: Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans and Mobile.
MEMA’s 2022 Disaster Guide also has additional severe weather preparedness tips: click here.
News Release
