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Severe Weather Awareness Week will be held March 16-22, with the Statewide Tornado Drill being conducted on March 19 at 1 p.m
Severe Weather Awareness Week will be held March 16-22, with the Statewide Tornado Drill being conducted on March 19 at 1 p.m 
Statewide Severe Weather Awareness Week and Tornado Drill:
Severe Weather Awareness Week will be held March 16-22, with the Statewide Tornado Drill being conducted on March 19 at 1 p.m.
Plan Ahead:
Tornadoes can happen at any time but are more prevalent in late spring and early summer. It’s important that your household or business has a plan to react quickly. Now is the time to plan ahead and talk about:
- Do you have a plan?
- Where will you go?
- What will you do?
- Do you know how the alert systems in your area work?
- How will you communicate?
Statewide Tornado Drill March 19, 2025
The Statewide Tornado Drill on March 19, 2025 is an opportunity to practice and discuss your severe weather plans. During this drill, a test notification will be sent out via Newaygo County’s Nixle Alert and Notification System as well as a Wireless Emergency Alert via IPAWs.
Wireless phones should receive a text message accompanied by a unique tone and vibrations IF the phone is set to receive State and Local tests. The messages will read: “TEST, TEST, TEST. This is a test as a part of the annual Tornado Drill. This is only a test.”
All residents are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to practice sheltering in place, review your emergency plans for severe weather and update them if necessary.
During this drill the Tornado Sirens in Newaygo County will not be tested.
Local Tornado Siren Facts:
As a reminder, Tornado Sirens are tested once a month on the first Monday of the month at 7pm April through October. If a holiday falls on the first Monday, sirens will be tested the following Monday. Sirens are located in the City of Fremont, City of Newaygo, City of Grant, Village of Hesperia, Big Prairie, Croton, and Bitely.
Please remember:
*Tornado Sirens are only sounded when a Tornado Warning is issued by the National Weather Service.
*Tornado Sirens will NOT sound for a Severe Thunderstorms with damaging winds (straight line winds or down bursts)
*Tornado Sirens are activated manually and can take up to 5 minutes to set off after a Tornado Warning has been issued.
*Tornado Sirens are designed to ONLY notify an outdoor population of a tornado
*Tornado Sirens are difficult to hear indoors during a storm
*Tornado Sirens can only be heard for 1 - 2 miles around the siren
*Tornado Sirens can not give you specific information about the incoming Tornado.
Stay informed:
Newaygo County Nixle Alert and Notification System
Newaygo County uses multiple methods to disseminate emergency information in order to target the largest number of people possible. It is up to you to choose which notification method(s) work best for you to receive the emergency information.
If you have a text enabled Cell Phone, Newaygo ES recommends signing up for Nixle.
*Nixle is a FREE comprehensive warning system designed for rapid dissemination of alerts and public information to a variety of public mechanisms.
*Alerts and emergency information are received via text, email, web, and social media in real time for localized emergency situations relevant to the community.
*Anyone can view information through the Nixle Website without registering to receive alerts at https://local.nixle.com/newaygo-county-emergency-services/
To register for NIXLE ALERTS
The Statewide Tornado Drill on March 19, 2025 is an opportunity to practice and discuss your severe weather plans. During this drill, a test notification will be sent out via Newaygo County’s Nixle Alert and Notification System as well as a Wireless Emergency Alert via IPAWs.
Wireless phones should receive a text message accompanied by a unique tone and vibrations IF the phone is set to receive State and Local tests. The messages will read: “TEST, TEST, TEST. This is a test as a part of the annual Tornado Drill. This is only a test.”
All residents are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to practice sheltering in place, review your emergency plans for severe weather and update them if necessary.
During this drill the Tornado Sirens in Newaygo County will not be tested.
Local Tornado Siren Facts:
As a reminder, Tornado Sirens are tested once a month on the first Monday of the month at 7pm April through October. If a holiday falls on the first Monday, sirens will be tested the following Monday. Sirens are located in the City of Fremont, City of Newaygo, City of Grant, Village of Hesperia, Big Prairie, Croton, and Bitely.
Please remember:
*Tornado Sirens are only sounded when a Tornado Warning is issued by the National Weather Service.
*Tornado Sirens will NOT sound for a Severe Thunderstorms with damaging winds (straight line winds or down bursts)
*Tornado Sirens are activated manually and can take up to 5 minutes to set off after a Tornado Warning has been issued.
*Tornado Sirens are designed to ONLY notify an outdoor population of a tornado
*Tornado Sirens are difficult to hear indoors during a storm
*Tornado Sirens can only be heard for 1 - 2 miles around the siren
*Tornado Sirens can not give you specific information about the incoming Tornado.
Stay informed:
Newaygo County Nixle Alert and Notification System
Newaygo County uses multiple methods to disseminate emergency information in order to target the largest number of people possible. It is up to you to choose which notification method(s) work best for you to receive the emergency information.
If you have a text enabled Cell Phone, Newaygo ES recommends signing up for Nixle.
*Nixle is a FREE comprehensive warning system designed for rapid dissemination of alerts and public information to a variety of public mechanisms.
*Alerts and emergency information are received via text, email, web, and social media in real time for localized emergency situations relevant to the community.
*Anyone can view information through the Nixle Website without registering to receive alerts at https://local.nixle.com/newaygo-county-emergency-services/
To register for NIXLE ALERTS
- Text your Zip Code or NEWAYGOES to 888777 from your mobile phone
- Sign up and create a user profile at https://local.nixle.com/register/
IPAWS Alerts:
During Life Threatening situations where the public needs to take immediate action, a Wireless Emergency Alert can also be sent to provide critical information to the public. This type of alert can be sent to Wireless phones via a text message accompanied by a unique tone and vibrations. This type of alert is similar to an Amber Alert message.
NOAA Weather Radios:
If you do not have text or Internet capabilities, Newaygo County Emergency Services encourages the use of NOAA Weather Radios.
NOAA Weather Radios:
*Are designed for All-Hazards Warning and can be modified to alert those with special needs including deaf and hard of hearing, blind, etc.
*Are programmed to notify you of hazards within your area including tornados, severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, downbursts, hail, hazardous materials spills, floods, etc.
*Will give you specific information about the storm and emergency protective measures you should take.
*Are set off automatically through local NOAA Weather Radio Towers when a warning is issued. Notifications occur within seconds of the warning.
*Are battery operated and will work when there is no power. Some models are handheld while others are also an AM/FM radio and alarm clock.
*On average, cost $20.00 per unit. Units are no more expensive to maintain than smoke detectors.
Be Prepared:
Follow these tornado-ready tips:
During Life Threatening situations where the public needs to take immediate action, a Wireless Emergency Alert can also be sent to provide critical information to the public. This type of alert can be sent to Wireless phones via a text message accompanied by a unique tone and vibrations. This type of alert is similar to an Amber Alert message.
NOAA Weather Radios:
If you do not have text or Internet capabilities, Newaygo County Emergency Services encourages the use of NOAA Weather Radios.
NOAA Weather Radios:
*Are designed for All-Hazards Warning and can be modified to alert those with special needs including deaf and hard of hearing, blind, etc.
*Are programmed to notify you of hazards within your area including tornados, severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, downbursts, hail, hazardous materials spills, floods, etc.
*Will give you specific information about the storm and emergency protective measures you should take.
*Are set off automatically through local NOAA Weather Radio Towers when a warning is issued. Notifications occur within seconds of the warning.
*Are battery operated and will work when there is no power. Some models are handheld while others are also an AM/FM radio and alarm clock.
*On average, cost $20.00 per unit. Units are no more expensive to maintain than smoke detectors.
Be Prepared:
Follow these tornado-ready tips:
- Know the difference: Tornado Watch means conditions exist for a tornado to develop; Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
- Know the signs of an approaching tornado: dark, often greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark low-lying cloud; and loud roar, like a freight train.
- Develop an emergency preparedness kit with essential items such as a three-day supply of water and food, a NOAA Weather Radio, important family documents and items that satisfy unique family needs.
- Conduct regular tornado drills. Make sure each household member knows where to go and what to do in the event of a tornado.
- Stay tuned to commercial radio or television broadcasts for news on changing weather conditions or approaching storms.
Participate in Training:
US National Weather Service Grand Rapids Michigan will be holding Weather Spotter Training in White Cloud on Wednesday, March 26th at 6:00 PM. It is FREE to attend.
For additional forecast information, please visit https://www.weather.gov/grr/spottertraining
US National Weather Service Grand Rapids Michigan will be holding Weather Spotter Training in White Cloud on Wednesday, March 26th at 6:00 PM. It is FREE to attend.
For additional forecast information, please visit https://www.weather.gov/grr/spottertraining
Address/Location
Newaygo County Emergency Services
E Newell St
White Cloud, MI 49349
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 231-689-7354
TEXT-A-TIP - Text TIP NEWAYGOES followed by your message, to 888777
