Last year, the state of Mississippi was hit by a number of twisters. In preparation for the height of tornado season, Pearl River County Emergency Management Director Danny Manley said residents should keep an eye on Mother Nature.

“The biggest emphasis is to pay close attention to the weather. You don’t want to stay in a mobile home when there’s a tornado coming,” Manley said. “Historically, we’re now in the height of tornado season.”

Since 1950, Mississippi has seen a majority of tornadoes strike in the months of February, March, April and May, according to a MEMA press release.

The release also stated that Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared Feb. 9-13 as tornado preparedness week.

In an effort to prepare the community for an emergency, the National Weather Service will begin a statewide tornado warning test on NOAA weather radios today at 9:15 a.m., Manley said.

He also encourages schools and businesses to participate in the radio drill in order to learn what to do in the event of a tornado.

In Pearl River county, there are currently three community safe rooms where residents can seek shelter in case of an emergency; Picayune Memorial High School at 501 Laurel St., Pearl River Central High School at 7407 Highway 11 in Carriere and the Poplarville fairgrounds at 124 Rodeo St.

For detailed preparedness information, Manley suggested visiting MEMA’s website for safety tips. He also encouraged residents to visit Pearl River County’s website and click on the emergency management tab, which provides tips on how to stay safe during a tornado in any location.