03/10/2025
National Weather Service and IDHS
Severe Weather Preparedness Week Starts Tuesday, March 10th
This week serves as a yearly reminder and opportunity for Hoosiers to prepare for severe weather threats like tornadoes, thunderstorms and flooding.
Find relevant severe weather tips and information below, on GetPrepared.in.gov and throughout the week on social media. Follow IDHS and use the hashtags and !
Time to test your tornado plans
Room filled with debris inside house missing roof due to tornado
At 10:15 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 11, practice your tornado safety plans wherever you are at that time. This means you should gather your household members (including pets) or your coworkers, then go to the lowest level of your shelter location away from windows, outside walls and doors.
The National Weather Service will issue a test tornado warning alert that will be shared using the statewide Emergency Alert System (EAS), so take your weather radio and your mobile phone, which you will need to stay aware of weather alerts and to call for help in case of an emergency.
In your tornado shelter, protect yourself from falling debris, like a ceiling (as shown above). If possible, use blankets, a mattress or a sturdy piece of furniture to cover yourself.
If you are unsure what to do during a tornado warning, now is the time to make a tornado safety plan. The risk of tornadoes in Indiana increases during springtime: About 43% of Indiana's tornadoes occur March through May. June is the most active time for tornadoes (almost 25% occur in that month alone).
On March 18, 1925, the deadliest tornado in U.S. history swept through the Midwest, including southwest Indiana. Almost a mile wide at times, the Tri-State Tornado killed nearly 700 people and destroyed 15,000 homes.
Resources
Visit the Severe Weather Preparedness webpage for helpful tips on staying safe from tornadoes and other threats.
Teachers and parents can use the IDHS Severe Weather Awareness Children's Activity Book to help kids learn about storm threats.
Take your awareness of severe weather to the next level — and help your community and the National Weather Service — by attending a short, free online or in-person class to be trained as a storm spotter. Your ability to assess weather conditions and report them quickly can make a real difference in helping others stay safe.
Counties Affected by Severe Weather (2015-2024)
◘ Flooding: 85 of 92 counties (92%)
◘ Tornadoes: 83 of 92 counties (90%)
◘ Lightning (damage caused): 25 of 92 counties (27%)
Protect yourself and your loved ones:
Make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts in case one method is unavailable.
When a thunderstorm is expected or early signs of one appear, wrap up your outdoor activities.
Check that every member of your household knows what to do when there is a tornado warning.
Buy flood insurance if your home is susceptible.
Nature Safety Tips
In 2024, Indiana ranked in the top 20 states nationally for lightning density, with more than 23 instances of lightning occurring per 0.4 square mile (according to Vaisala's Annual Lightning Report). That is more than 2.2 million instances of lightning statewide. In other words, a lot of lightning.
Follow these tips to make thunderbolts and lightning less frightening:
"When thunder roars, go indoors."
If you cannot get inside, avoid open areas and tall, isolated objects like trees. You do not want to be the tallest object or be near whatever is.
If sheltering in a vehicle, make sure the windows are completely shut.
Lightning Safety Tips
A little rain never hurt anybody ...
But a lot can kill you! Heavy rainfall in mid-February led to flooding in southern Indiana, especially near the Ohio River. The flooding worsened farther south in Kentucky and led to hundreds of road closures and several deaths throughout the state. The Indiana National Guard, Indiana Task Force One and Indiana conservation officers assisted rescue efforts there.
Stay safe from floods by learning about the flood risks in your area. You can use the Indiana DNR Floodplain Information Portal to find locations near you that are in floodplains.
If you encounter flooding:
Do not drive through flooded roadways. "Turn around. Don't drown."
Do not walk into or swim in floodwaters. Unknown hazards may be hidden within.
Flood Safety Tips
Twisters can happen anywhere in Indiana.
Do not be fooled into thinking a tornado cannot occur where you live! Since 1950, every Indiana county has had at least four confirmed tornadoes — even the smallest one, Ohio County. The average number of tornadoes per county is 21.
Tippecanoe County has seen the most tornadoes (51), followed by Marion (43), Lake (38), Shelby and Washington (37) and Elkhart and Boone (34). Go to the IDHS Tornado History Viewer to see when and where tornadoes in Indiana have been.
Remember:
Tornadoes can happen anywhere at any time of year and any time — day or night — when conditions are right.
Plan ahead exactly where you will shelter during a tornado warning in case you are at home, school, work or even traveling.
When sheltering from a tornado, shield yourself from debris. Cover your head and neck using your arms or other objects.
Tornado Safety Tips
