Ripley County, IN — Ripley County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) wants to remind residents that March 12-18, 2023 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana.
The purpose of Severe Weather Preparedness Week is to better educate people about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes and to help everyone be prepared when severe weather occurs.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a collaborative effort with the National Weather Service (NWS) and its partners to better raise awareness and encourage preparedness.
Ripley County has had 22 confirmed tornadoes (per the NOAA Storm Event Database) from 1956–2022 in which five of which have been in the last three years.
Damaging wind (straight-line) events remain the highest percentage threat, along with flooding events.
Residents should have TV/radio; NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio; Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) enabled, weather/phone apps, internet/social media, and sign up for the Ripley County Mass Notification Service Hyper-Reach, with Community Alerts and Weather Alerts!
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wilmington, Ohio issues alerts/warnings for Ripley County.
With the exception of the City of Batesville (some Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are also included), outdoor warning sirens in the county are only activated when the NWS issues a Tornado Warning.
Most outdoor warning sirens are operated by local volunteer fire departments as firefighters, when available, respond to the station to set them off.
Outdoor warning sirens are designed only to alert those who are outside that something dangerous is approaching and are not meant to be heard inside a structure.
Some volunteer fire departments also use outdoor sirens, in addition to pagers, to alert firefighters to respond to the station for normal everyday emergencies.
Some communities also operate and maintain storm shelters/safe havens where residents can go when a Tornado Watch/Warning is issued.
For further information and locations please contact your local fire department or municipality.
Upon notification of an operating shelter, Ripley County EMA assists with resources when available.
For more information on emergency preparedness or to sign up for the Hyper-Reach Mass Notification System please visit www.ripleycounty.in.gov or contact the Ripley County Emergency Management Agency at (812) 689-0505 or email [email protected].
Residents can also visit the Indiana Department of Homeland Security at https://www.in.gov/dhs/emergency-management-and-preparedness/.
(Ripley County Emergency Management Agency press release)
