INDIANA — Governor Mike Braun has declared March 8–14, 2026, as Severe Weather Preparedness Week, and as part of the initiative, Hoosiers across the state will participate in a live tornado warning test this week.
The statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at approximately 10:15 a.m. EDT (9:15 a.m. CDT).
During the 30-minute window between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) will issue a test tornado warning alert. This is a “live-code” test, meaning it will use the actual Tornado Warning (TOR) Emergency Alert System (EAS) code to ensure that communication systems are functioning properly before peak storm season arrives.
Residents can expect the following during the drill:
- Outdoor Sirens: Many communities will sound their all-hazard outdoor warning sirens.
- Weather Radios: NOAA Weather Radios will activate with the test message.
- Broadcast Alerts: Local television and radio stations will interrupt programming to broadcast the EAS alert.
- School & University Alerts: Major institutions, including Indiana University and Purdue University, will trigger their internal notification systems (like IU Notify and PurdueALERT).
Unlike a real emergency, this test will not typically trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on most cellphones, as those are reserved for actual life-threatening events to prevent “alert fatigue.”
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and the NWS encourage every business, school, and family to treat the drill as a real-world event. This is the ideal time to:
- Practice Your Plan: Physically go to your designated safe place—usually a basement or an interior room on the lowest level, away from windows.
- Check Supplies: Ensure your emergency kit is stocked with water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and extra batteries.
- Verify Alerts: Confirm you have at least three ways to receive warnings (e.g., weather radio, local news app, and sirens).
In the event of actual severe weather on Tuesday morning, the test will be postponed to Wednesday, March 11, at the same time.
“These tests are an important part of ensuring our stations are ready to deliver critical, life-saving information to the public when it matters most,” authorities stated.
