Will Indiana have an active tornado season this year? “You never can tell,” said David Tucek, Warning Coordination Meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. “What matters though is that Hoosiers must always be prepared. The tornado striking Evansville at 2:00 a.m. in November 2005 was the deadliest in our state in over 30 years. Many were killed because they were unaware of the threat. We need to be prepared at all times. Nearly 60,000 people across Indiana purchased NOAA All Hazards radios in recent years to be alerted whenever tornado warnings are issued for their area.”

Governor Mitch Daniels has proclaimed March 2nd through 8th, 2008 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana. The National Weather Service, in cooperation with the Indiana State Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Department of Transportation, the American Red Cross, the Indiana Broadcasters Association, and the amateur radio community, will be conducting a severe weather preparedness campaign during the week.

Every family, every school, and every business should take time now to review or create a weather safety action plan.

The 30th annual statewide test tornado drill will be conducted on Wednesday March 5 between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. EST. A second drill will occur between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Wednesday evening. Friday March 7 is the make-up drill day if weather postpones Wednesday’s drill. These tests should be used as times to practice your plan.

The National Weather Service will issue public information statements each day during Preparedness Week covering a specific topic of severe weather. For further information, you may also refer to the website:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/ind/2008_svr_wx_awareness.pdf

Central Indiana SKYWARN will be conducting two nets to support the statewide tornado drill. One net in the morning and one in the evening. Please plan to participate in at least one of the drills.

Normal net procedures will apply and we will be taking check-ins from county liaison stations.

Presentations from the Symposium have been posted here.

2008 brings the next installment of the Central Indiana Severe Weather Symposium, an all day session geared towards providing more advanced information for severe weather spotters.

The 2008 symposium will be held on Saturday, March 1st, 2008, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Valle Vista Conference Center, 755 E. Main St., Greenwood, Indiana, and is co-sponsored by the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Service Indianapolis.