Traverse City, Michigan - Severe Weather Awareness Week is March 16-22, 2025. This week serves as a great time for Michigan families, businesses, and schools to practice what they would do if a severe weather event should occur.
During this week, the Michigan Annual Statewide Tornado Drill also takes place on Wednesday, March 19th at 1 p.m. Grand Traverse County Emergency Management will test the CodeRED Emergency Notification System and activate the Integrated Public Alert & Warning (IPAWS) system for the drill. This time can be used to consider where you would go if an actual tornado warning had been issued.
Below are a few tips on how to prepare for a severe weather event.
Tornado
- Go to a safe room, basement, or storm cellar
- If there is no basement, go to a small, interior room on the lowest level
- Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls
- If you can safely get to a sturdy building, do so immediately
- Do not go under an overpass or bridge
- Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death
- Use your arms to protect your head and neck
Thunderstorms, lightning, or hail
- When thunder roars, go indoors
- Move from outdoors into a building or car
- Pay attention to alerts and warnings
- Unplug appliances
- Do not use landline phones
Flood
- Do not walk, swim, drive, or boat through flood waters
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water
- Evacuate where you are if told to do so
- Move to higher ground or floor
- Stay where you are unless told otherwise
Contact:
Gregg Bird, Emergency Management Coordinator
(231) 995-6059, gbird@gtcountymi.gov