Gov. Tate Reeves has declared Oct. 12–17 as Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi, urging residents to prepare for natural disasters that may occur over the next three months, his office said in a press release.
The release noted that while hurricane season remains underway for a few more weeks and spring is the most active period for tornadoes, neither can be ruled out in October, November or December. It cited Hurricane Nicole’s Nov. 10, 2022, U.S. landfall in Florida as an example and said Mississippi recorded 80 tornadoes in 2025, including seven between October and December.
“Fall weather can bring severe storms to Mississippi,” Reeves said in the 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.”
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) encouraged residents to check insurance policies, assemble disaster supply kits including food and water, and have emergency plans in place, the agency said. 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.
MEMA said the schedule of programming that will be shared on its 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
The press release said additional preparedness tips are available on MEMA’s website.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
