The National Weather Service will hold an emergency preparedness forum Thursday in Gary as part of its seminar and webinar series for the public, about a week after a deadly storm hit the area and nearly a year after a tornado hit Gary.
During “Beyond the Warning: A Look at Weather Forecasting and Preparedness,” National Weather Service meteorologists will discuss how thunderstorms develop, how residents could prepare for severe weather, and how to read radar data, according to the weather service.
Further, those at the seminar will walk through a forecast scenario and see how meteorologists generate a forecast. The National Weather Service holds the two-hour, free seminar in communities throughout northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
“The events of last week and even yesterday highlight the importance of preparedness and general steps needed to be safe,” NWS meteorologist Ricky Castro said Monday.
Nearly a year ago, on March 19, 2025, an EF-1 tornado, with wind speeds up to 136 miles per hour, hit Gary. The storm was part of a larger system of six severe storms recorded across Northwest Indiana that night, according to a Lake County news release announcing the forum.
In Gary, the tornado damaged an elementary school and several houses, displacing families, according to the release.
Last week, Lake Village was hit by a tornado, which killed two people. Aroma Park, Illinois, across the Kankakee River from Lake Village, also suffered heavy damage and a fatality in the storms.
Newton County Coroner Scott McCord identified the victims as Edward L Kozlowski, 89, and his wife, Arlene Kozlowski, 84. Their preliminary cause of death has been ruled as “multiple blunt force trauma.”
The National Weather Service confirmed at least four tornadoes came out of the storm, including Illinois’ Livingston and Kankakee counties, and Lake Village and Wheatfield, Indiana.
In northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana, peak tornado season is April, May and June, but in the last couple of years, the regions have seen more tornadoes in March, Kevin Donofrio, science and operations officer for the National Weather Service’s Chicago office, has said.
“We’re very happy to have the National Weather Service bring the Beyond the Warning class to Gary,” stated Fire Chief Larry Tillman. “This educational session gives our community valuable insight into how weather forecasts, watches, and warnings are developed, and why that information matters. Having this resource available locally is a real benefit for our residents and helps strengthen our community’s ability to plan ahead and stay safe.”
Last Thursday, Gov. Mike Braun took an aerial survey of the storm damage around Lake Village and then met with first responders. Seeing the damage from the air, Braun said.
“It was a little worse than we thought it would be,” Braun said. “Where it hit, it just seemed like it took everything out.”
Lake County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Bob Walker said his department will participate in the forum to ensure residents are prepared for any type of weather emergency.
After the storm hit Lake Village, Walker said his department responded to the cleanup efforts. Walker said it was moving to see different agencies respond, people donate food and companies offer their equipment to help with the cleanup.
“To see everybody working together … it’s just amazing,” Walker said.
The National Weather Service forum will be informative, Walker said, including a discussion about what residents should pack in a preparedness kit before a storm hits. After last week’s storm, it was clear residents weren’t prepared, Walker said.
“That’s what didn’t happen in Lake Village,” Walker said. “They didn’t really prepare for the devastation.”
The event requires online registration. It will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at the Indiana University Northwest Anderson Library and Conference Center in Gary.
akukulka@post-trib.com
