Ripley Co. Emergency Management Recognizes Severe Weather Preparedness Week

While tornadoes can be a threat, damaging wind events remain the highest percentage threat, along with flooding events.

(Ripley County, Ind.) – Ripley County Emergency Management is reminding residents that it is Severe Weather Preparedness Week.

The purpose is to better educate people about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and to help everyone be prepared when severe weather occurs.

According to Ripley County Emergency Management, there have been 22 confirmed tornadoes in the county between 1956 and 2022. Five have occurred in the last three years.

While tornadoes can be a threat in the area, damaging wind events remain the highest percentage threat, along with flooding events.

Residents should have radio, television, NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts Enables, weather phone apps, internet, and social media to track severe weather. Another helpful tool is the Ripley County Mass Notification Service (Hyper-Reach), which provides community and weather alerts.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wilmington OH issues alerts/warnings for Ripley County. With the exception of the City of Batesville (some Severe Thunderstorm Warnings 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.

For more information on local storm shelters and emergency preparedness, visit www.ripleycounty.in.gov or contact Ripley County Emergency Management at 812-689-0505.

Residents can also visit IDHS at https://www.in.gov/dhs/get-prepared/nature-safety/severe-weatherpreparedness/.