The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are calling on residents to participate in the Great Maryland Twister Test on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 10 a.m.
The statewide tornado drill, part of Maryland Severe Storms Awareness Week from April 7-11, aims to prepare Marylanders for real tornado warnings. At 10 a.m., NWS will broadcast a test message over NOAA Weather Radios, though it won’t trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on cell phones.
The drill encourages schools, businesses, and individuals to practice tornado safety protocols. Participants should move to a safe location—such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on a building’s lowest floor—away from windows and doors. For those outside, the guidance is to lie flat in a ditch, avoiding overpasses, and to protect the head and neck from flying debris.
MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland emphasized the importance of preparation, stating, “Tornadoes can strike with little warning. Whether you are in school, at work, or at home, knowing the safest place to go during a tornado warning is vital and makes all the difference.”
Maryland sees tornadoes nearly every year, with historical data from Delmarva Now showing about 425 since 1950, resulting in nine deaths and over 300 injuries. Fatal incidents have occurred in LaPlata, College Park, and Baltimore City since 2000. These storms, often packing winds of 80-110 mph—or up to 200 mph in extreme cases—can level buildings and scatter deadly debris across paths as wide as a mile. While most frequent in warm months, tornadoes can strike anytime conditions align.
The drill aligns with efforts by the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Center for School Safety to guide schools in identifying safe zones within facilities. Schools are urged to join the 10 a.m. test but can schedule additional practice as needed. Families are also encouraged to rehearse plans at home, perhaps in the evening when everyone is present.
NWS offices in Baltimore/Washington, Mount Holly, and Wakefield are coordinating the effort, covering all Maryland counties. The Baltimore/Washington office oversees most of the state, while Mount Holly handles the Eastern Shore’s Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, and Wakefield covers Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester.
MDEM is promoting the MdReady WebApp, available at MdReady.maryland.gov, for real-time emergency updates. Users can add it to their mobile devices or sign up for text alerts in English, Spanish, or 185 other languages by texting “MdReady” to 211-631. Strickland noted, “Taking just a few minutes now to prepare can help save lives when real storms threaten.”
Additional resources are available at mdem.maryland.gov/Pages/severe-storms-week.aspx, weather.gov/safety, and ready.gov. Maryland’s tornado history underscores the need for readiness, with past events leaving lasting impacts on communities statewide.
