State and Community Partners Promote Severe Weather Safety
With Online Public Education Campaigns and
Then & Now: Navigating Delaware’s Evolving Severe Weather Landscape. A Panel Discussion on March 10, 3-4:30 pm
SMYRNA, Del. – Governor Matt Meyer has proclaimed March 9-13, 2026 Severe Weather Awareness Week to promote emergency preparedness and enhance public safety. In support of this, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) has partnered with the National Weather Service (NWS), the Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (CEMA) at the University of Delaware, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), and Delaware Sea Grant on this annual public education campaign to raise awareness and help residents prepare for hazardous weather situations.
“The recent winter storms serve as a strong reminder of the kinds of significant weather-related impacts that Delawareans must be prepared to safely navigate,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “It takes collaboration between state, county and local agencies, and the communities we serve, to ensure that we are always prepared to keep residents and families safe through even the most unexpected of weather disruptions.”
SOCIAL MEDIA:
As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, the public is invited to follow DEMA’s social media accounts for daily information on preparedness measures for various kinds of weather hazards. In addition, Today in DEMA History brings the past to life with archival images and reporting that chronicle noteworthy events in the agency’s history of preparedness, response and recovery. The campaign will run throughout the rest of 2026 and includes quizzes on important emergency management facts to better prepare residents for any eventuality.
“Delawareans need to be prepared for a range of events from thunderstorms and lightning to nor’easters, flooding and tornadoes, any of which can threaten personal safety, property and infrastructure, often with little warning,” commented DEMA Director A.J. Schall. “Preparing for and mitigating against weather-related threats can make all the difference in a crisis, which is why we remind residents to always Make a Plan, Build a Kit and Stay informed.”
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Severe Weather Awareness Week presents a unique opportunity to reflect on the history and evolution of climate change that continues to impact the state of Delaware. The occasion also celebrates the many milestones being observed this year, including the nation’s 250th Anniversary, DEMA’s 75th year of service and Sea Grant’s 50th Anniversary.
On Tuesday, March 10, from 3:00-4:30pm, Delaware Sea Grant and partners will convene in the First Town of the First State and will be joined by the City of Lewes Mayor, Amy Marasco to present:
‘Then & Now: Navigating Delaware’s Evolving Severe Weather Landscape.”
Those interested in attending can elect to join in-person at the UD Campus in Lewes. This event will examine important weather events in Delaware’s, historical trends that will shape our future, and steps for staying prepared. The event will be held at the Sussex Campus of the University of Delaware’s Cannon Building at 1044 College Road, Room 104. This event is open to the public and the media.
To register, please visit the University of Delaware Event’s calendar. For more information, contact Danielle Swallow at dswallow@udel.edu.
COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS:
Visit preparede.org and https://preparede.org/cert/ for information on how to Make a Plan and join a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to keep families and communities safe during weather-related emergencies.
In observance of Severe Weather Awareness Week, DEMA offers a host of universal safety tips along with hazard-specific advice each day of the week that can keep the public safe regardless of the threat.
- Monday: Flood Safety
- It takes just 6 inches and 1-2 feet of flood water to sweep a person away.
- It only takes 1-2 feet of flood water to sweep a person or a vehicle away, respectively. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to assess your flood risk.
- Tuesday: Tornado Safety
- If you’re outside, quickly get indoors. If already inside, go deep within the building to the lowest level and keep away from windows, doors and exterior walls. Position yourself and family under blankets and pillows and remain low to the ground.
- Manufactured homes such as mobile homes or recreational vehicles are not safe places to shelter. Make advanced plans to move to a nearby safe public space or neighboring community with a brick-and-mortar clubhouse or community recreation center and be prepared to move fast.
- Wednesday: Severe Thunderstorms and Hail
- Hail is created when thunderstorm updrafts carry water droplets into extremely cold, high-altitude areas, causing them to freeze. Once the hailstones get too heavy to remain in the atmosphere, they fall to the ground.
- Hail can result in destruction to cars and rooftops, broken windows and may pose significant threat to personal safety.
- Thursday: Thunder and Lightning Safety
- The rule of thumb is if you can hear Thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be hit by lightning.
- If caught outside during a thunderstorm, take immediate shelter inside and postpone all outdoor activities or get into a hard top vehicle.
- Friday: Preparing for severe weather
- Make a Plan that kids understand in case of emergency. Rehearse where your family would reunite and make accommodations for pets, the elderly or those with access and functional needs. https://preparede.org/make-a-plan/
- Build a Kit — Organize and expand upon your home and car’s emergency kit to ensure food/water, medicines and first aid needs are covered, along with essentials like flashlights and battery-powered radios, warm clothing, and automotive tools such as scrapers, shovels, salt or cat litter and jumper cables.
- Stay Informed by signing up for the Delaware Department of Transportation mobile App for road safety and traffic updates and the Delaware Emergency Notification System (DENS) to receive emergency notifications. Download Know Your Zone to check if you live or work in a designated flood evacuation zone.
The National Weather Service is hosting a “Severe Weather Awareness Week” webpage with helpful information and links to NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation website.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is the lead state agency for coordination of comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery, and mitigation services to save lives, protect Delaware’s economic base and reduce the impact of emergencies. DEMA is a division within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) and authorized by Delaware Code.
Social Media: Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Facebook X and Instagram
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