Gov. Tate Reeves has declared Oct. 12-17 as Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi, urging residents to get ready for any natural disasters that might take place over the next three months.
While hurricane season is still underway for a few more weeks and spring is the most active time of the year for tornadoes, neither can be ruled out during the months of October, November, and December.
In November 2022, Hurricane Nicole made landfall in Florida on Nov. 10, marking the last time a hurricane made landfall in the U.S. after the Atlantic season ended. In 2025, Mississippi recorded 80 tornadoes, including seven between October and December.
“Fall weather can bring severe storms to Mississippi,” Reeves said in a press release. “Residents need to be prepared before severe weather strikes. I encourage all Mississippians to use this week to review their emergency plans, know where they will go for safety, and make sure their families are prepared to respond when severe weather threatens.”
As part of the preparations, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency encourages residents to check their insurance policies, assemble disaster supply kits including food, water, and other key items, and have emergency plans in place. Tips on how to prepare can be found here.
To promote severe weather preparedness, MEMA is partnering with the National Weather Service during Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week to highlight different hazards and ways to prepare for the state’s secondary severe weather season.
The schedule of programming that will be shared on MEMA’s social media and website will include:
- Monday, Oct. 12: Make a Plan
- Tuesday, Oct. 13: Severe Thunderstorms
- Wednesday, Oct. 14: Tornado Safety
- Thursday, Oct. 15: Flash Flooding
- Friday, Oct. 16: Warning Reception Methods
