Michigan Statewide Tornado Drill Set for March 18 During Severe Weather Week

Four tornadoes tore through Branch, Calhoun, Cass and St. Joseph counties on March 6, killing four people, injuring many more and destroying businesses across Southwest Michigan. Today, state officials are using that destruction as the backdrop for a voluntary statewide tornado drill at 1 p.m., organized by the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division as part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Severe Weather Awareness Week, running March 15 through 21.

Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, called the March 6 storms a direct warning to every community in the state. "The recent devastating tornadoes in Southwest Michigan serve as a somber reminder that severe weather can strike at any time, even early in the season," Grady said. "We encourage local communities to take part in the statewide tornado drill and encourage everyone to practice your plan now to help save lives when every second counts."

The drill is voluntary. Communities, businesses, organizations, families and individuals across Iron County and the rest of Michigan are encouraged to participate but not required to do so. The ask from MSP/EMHSD is straightforward: at 1 p.m. today, practice your tornado plan.

Gov. Whitmer framed the urgency in stark terms. "The importance of severe weather awareness is clearer than ever following last week's deadly tornadoes," she said. "I encourage every Michigander to take time now to make a plan, build an emergency kit, and sign up for local emergency alerts. Preparing today can save lives when minutes matter. Let's work together and stay safe."

The numbers reinforce why that preparation matters. The National Weather Service confirmed 33 tornadoes touched down across Michigan in 2025 alone. And while the average warning lead time is 10 to 15 minutes, tornadoes can strike with little or no warning, leaving households and businesses almost no margin for improvisation.

For Iron County residents accustomed to thinking about winter storms rather than twisters this time of year, the timing is easy to dismiss. Blizzard conditions have dominated the Upper Peninsula through mid-March, making tornado season feel distant. But the March 6 deaths in Southwest Michigan happened before spring officially arrived.

St. Joseph County, one of the four counties hit on March 6, has already moved to strengthen its infrastructure by adding more tornado sirens. For Iron County, the drill offers a low-cost opportunity to identify gaps: where would your household shelter, how would you account for family members in different locations, and are you enrolled in local emergency alerts?

Details on how to prepare before, during and after a severe weather event are available at michigan.gov/miready.