{"id":28137,"date":"2026-04-06T06:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T10:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/?p=28137"},"modified":"2026-04-06T06:10:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T10:10:01","slug":"be-mdready-maryland-severe-storms-awareness-week-focuses-on-spring-hazards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/2026\/04\/06\/be-mdready-maryland-severe-storms-awareness-week-focuses-on-spring-hazards\/","title":{"rendered":"Be #MdReady: Maryland Severe Storms Awareness Week Focuses on Spring Hazards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maryland Department of Emergency Management and National Weather Service Encourage Preparedness and Tornado Drill Preparation<\/em><\/p>\n

HANOVER, MD (April 6, 2025) \u2014 <\/b>April 6-12, will be recognized as <\/span>Severe Storms Awareness Week<\/span><\/a> (SSAW), a statewide initiative to help residents prepare for the wide range of dangerous weather hazards that impact Maryland each spring and beyond. This year\u2019s theme is “<\/span>Be MdReady: Resilience Starts With You!<\/b>\u201d SSAW will once again include a Tornado Drill: <\/span>The Great Maryland Twister Test<\/span><\/i>. Each day of the week will highlight a different severe weather threat common to the region, along with safety guidance and reminders based on real events that have affected Maryland communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaryland residents, schools, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to review their emergency plans this week and participate in the tornado drill at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. \u201cNow is the time for all Marylanders and visitors to take action,\u201d <\/span>said Maryland Secretary of Emergency Management, Russ Strickland. <\/b>\u201cParticipate in <\/span>The Great Maryland Twister Test<\/span><\/i>, review your emergency plans, and set up multiple ways to receive alerts through the <\/span>MdReady WebApp<\/span><\/a> and local text notifications. Being prepared today can save lives, minimize disruption, and help our communities stay safe and recover faster when severe weather strikes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Severe Storms Awareness Week also marks the rollout of Maryland\u2019s <\/span>Resilient Maryland Strategy<\/span><\/a>, a long-term roadmap for building resilience statewide. The Resilient Maryland Strategy serves as the State\u2019s first comprehensive, whole-of-government roadmap to strengthen disaster and climate resilience, aligning and advancing Maryland\u2019s many existing plans under a single, unified vision. The strategy outlines 20 goals and 50 recommendations\u201431 of which can begin immediately using existing resources\u2014across five key sectors: environment and natural systems, housing, community and local government capacity, food systems, and critical infrastructure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It takes an all-hazards approach, addressing risks such as flooding, severe storms, and extreme heat, while accounting for the increasing impacts of climate change. \u201cAs a former local emergency manager, I know firsthand the weight of trying to protect a community while navigating a fragmented landscape of resources and rising risks,\u201d<\/span> said Maryland Chief Resilience Officer, Mike Hinson<\/b>. \u201cThe strategy helps Maryland adopt a proactive, unified defense against disasters. It\u2019s about ensuring that every jurisdiction\u2014no matter how small\u2014has the technical support and strategic backing to thrive in the face of disasters and climate change.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis strategy is a clear commitment to every Marylander that their government is prepared to adapt, withstand, and swiftly recover from any disruption to daily life,\u201d <\/span>said Maryland Chief Sustainability Officer, Meghan Conklin. <\/b>\u201cBy moving beyond traditional silos and focusing on place-based strategies, we are ensuring that Maryland isn’t just surviving emergencies\u2014such as those posed by climate change<\/span>\u2014<\/b>but thriving in spite of them. We are building a state where our strategies are as inclusive as they are robust, with a relentless focus on safeguarding our most vulnerable communities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The strategy builds on and complements existing efforts\u2014including the Next Generation Adaptation Plan, State Hazard Mitigation Plan, and Climate Implementation Plans\u2014while going further to provide a streamlined, action-oriented framework. Ultimately, it ensures a more coordinated, proactive approach to resilience, helping protect Marylanders and communities from current and future hazards.<\/span><\/p>\n

That coordinated approach to resilience comes to life during Severe Storms Awareness Week, with each day focused on a specific hazard:<\/span><\/p>\n