Statewide Tornado Drill — Tomorrow, Wednesday March 18 at 1:00 p.m.
Use today to make sure your alert systems are set up and ready. Tomorrow, put your plan to the test.
When severe weather threatens Chesterfield Township, the difference between getting a warning and missing it could be the difference between life and death. This week is Michigan’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, and today’s focus is one of the most important things you can do right now — before any storm develops: make sure every member of your household knows how they’ll be alerted, and what to do when that alert comes.
Tomorrow, Wednesday March 18 at 1:00 p.m., Michigan’s voluntary Statewide Tornado Drill takes place. It’s the perfect opportunity to test your alert setup and run through your plan. Today’s the day to make sure that setup is in place.
Watch vs. Warning — Know the Difference
This is the most critical distinction in severe weather — and one that causes dangerous hesitation when people get it wrong.
|
Watch
Tornado Watch Conditions are favorable for tornado development. Stay informed, know your shelter location, and be ready to act immediately if a warning is issued. |
Warning
Tornado Warning A tornado has been spotted or confirmed by radar. Take shelter immediately. Do not wait. Every second counts. |
The same Watch/Warning distinction applies to Severe Thunderstorm alerts, Flash Flood alerts, and Winter Storm alerts. When in doubt: a Warning always means act now.
The Three Ways You’ll Be Warned
1. Outdoor Warning Sirens
Chesterfield Township’s outdoor warning sirens are designed for one purpose: to alert people who are outside that they need to get indoors immediately. If you hear a siren, do not go outside to look for the storm — go to your shelter location right away.
Sirens are not reliably heard inside your home through walls, insulation, and ambient noise. Do not rely on sirens alone as your only alert method, especially overnight.
2. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) — Your Phone
When the National Weather Service issues a Tornado Warning for Macomb County, your cell phone will automatically receive a Wireless Emergency Alert — that loud, distinctive alarm tone with a text message. No app download or registration is required.
Check your settings now. WEA alerts can be accidentally disabled. Verify yours are on:
How to verify WEA is enabled:
- iPhone: Settings → Notifications → scroll to bottom → Emergency Alerts toggled ON
- Android: Settings → Apps → search “Emergency Alerts” → confirm severe alerts are enabled
Make this check a habit at the start of every severe weather season.
3. NOAA Weather Radio — Your Most Reliable Backup
When power fails and cell towers go down, a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio keeps working. It broadcasts continuous weather information 24 hours a day and will activate an alarm tone when a warning is issued for your area — even in the middle of the night.
Look for a weather radio with SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology, which lets you program it to alert only for Macomb County rather than every county in the broadcast range. Reliable units are available at most home improvement and electronics retailers for $25–$50.
More information: weather.gov/nwr
About Tomorrow’s Statewide Tornado Drill
🚨 Wednesday, March 18 at 1:00 p.m. — Here’s what to expect
- TV and radio stations will broadcast drill messaging statewide. Tune in and listen.
- NOAA Weather Radio will conduct its regular weekly test in coordination with the drill, including a script encouraging families to practice their plans.
- Your phone will NOT receive a WEA alert — the drill does not trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts.
- Community sirens may or may not activate — that decision is made by Chesterfield Township’s local Emergency Management office.
- Participation is voluntary for individuals, households, schools, and businesses.
Use the drill to actually walk to your shelter location with your family. Time it. Make sure everyone knows where to go. That 60-second practice could save a life when a real warning comes.
Do These Things Today
Quick preparedness checklist
| ☐ | Verify WEA Emergency Alerts are enabled on every phone in your household |
| ☐ | Test your NOAA Weather Radio batteries — or pick up a unit if you don’t have one |
| ☐ | Make sure every household member, including children, knows what a tornado warning sounds like and where to go |
| ☐ | Plan to participate in tomorrow’s drill at 1:00 p.m. — walk to your shelter location and time it |
| ☐ | Follow Chesterfield Fire on Facebook for real-time updates during severe weather |
Official Resources
Posted by the Chesterfield Township Fire Department · Severe Weather Awareness Week 2026 · For emergencies, dial 911 · Non-emergency: 586-725-2233 · Follow us on Facebook
