March 13th – 19th is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana, with a statewide Live Tornado Alert test planned for Tuesday, March 15 between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Eastern time (between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. for counties in the Central time zone.)
The Indiana Broadcasters Association (IBA) in cooperation with the National Weather Service (NWS) is conducting a test of the state Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Tuesday, March 15 between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Eastern (between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Central). The alert can occur anytime in the 30-minute window starting at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The alert is conducted to ensure the system is working properly in the event of an actual tornado. In the event of severe or inclement weather, the test will be rescheduled and held on Wednesday morning, March 16th, at the same time.
“We work cooperatively with the National Weather Service each year to make sure that our state’s Emergency Alert System is operating as it should during emergencies,” said IBA Executive Director Dave Arland. “Hoosiers in all parts of the state rely on these alerts to respond appropriately and find safety. The Federal Communications Commission is aware of our annual test and Indiana’s broadcasters will be listening for the Live Tornado Warning alert issued by the National Weather Service and relaying that test alert to our listeners and viewers.”
The annual test is part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week which runs March 13th to 19th and includes coordinated efforts to work with residents, businesses, and government agencies across Indiana on preparedness activities.
More information on Severe Weather Preparedness Week can be found on the NWS Indianapolis website at https://www.weather.gov/ind/Severewxweek
For news stories and interviews on weather preparedness, please email Sam Lashley, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, for the National Weather Service Indianapolis, at: sam.lashley@noaa.gov
