As Spring draws near, the National Weather Service urges severe weather preparedness

If you heard the test of the tornado sirens Wednesday morning or heard the test of the emergency broadcast system on the radio, then you know that marks Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Kentucky.

Along with testing those vital systems, the annual test allows families and individuals to review their severe weather plans or create one if needed. In a kickoff event Tuesday night in Williamson County, Illinois, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Christine Weilgos with the National Weather Service in Paducah says last year was a busy year for tornadoes, beaten out only by 2011’s record, but there were more miles of damage reported in 2025.

Springtime always brings with it an uptick in severe weather, tornadoes included, with Weilgos saying that trend will undoubtedly continue this year, so take time to prepare now.

Williamson County, Illinois was struck by a devastating EF-4 tornado last year, and Emergency Management Director Brian Burgess says they were lucky to have no fatalities from that event. He says that’s due to people staying weather aware and taking quick action the second they heard their emergency alerts go off.

They encourage multiple ways to get severe weather alerts, especially at night, from phone calls and texts, local radio stations, a weather radio and more, with a reminder that tornado sirens are for people who are outside during an event, and not to depend on them to wake you up.

Burgess gave some preparedness tips, including making sure you have a back up supply of any life-sustaining medications you take every day, just in case the worst should happen.

The best place to be in the event of a tornado, or any severe weather event, is a basement or a storm shelter, but the inner-most room of a house away from windows and doors will also work, with something to put over your head for protection.

The National Weather Service will be posting informational graphics and more tips for being preparedness severe weather, as we enter our severe weather season.