After a weekend of severe storms and tornado warnings across Arkansas, emergency officials are urging residents to start preparing for tornado season now.
The National Weather Service has already confirmed three tornadoes from this past weekend’s storms, and damage surveys are still underway. This brings the total number of tornadoes reported in Arkansas so far in 2026 to six.
While tornadoes are not unusual in the Natural State, experts emphasize that preparation can make a critical difference when severe weather hits. For residents in Little Rock’s Breckenridge neighborhood, the threat of tornadoes feels very real. The community is nearing the third anniversary of the March 31, 2023, tornado that ripped through parts of central Arkansas.
“We’ve always been mindful that we are in a tornado alley,” one resident said. “You never know. It’s a very scary thing.”
Another neighbor shared that the experience continues to shape how they react to storms today.
“I have anxiety now with bad storms and heavy rains and strong winds,” the resident said.
Ashley Luningham with the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management says families should first make sure they can receive emergency alerts.
“First and foremost, have a way to get alerts and have at least two ways to get alerts,” Luningham said.
Officials recommend using weather apps, local news alerts, or a NOAA weather radio that can wake people during overnight storms. Luningham also advises families to put together emergency preparedness kits.
“We always stress to have a preparedness kit,” she said. “Now is a good time to have that go kit ready for these next few months.”
A standard kit should include water, snacks, extra clothing, shoes, and important documents such as insurance policies. When a tornado warning is issued, emergency officials say residents should move immediately to the most interior room of their home, away from windows. Basements provide the best protection when available, but interior rooms or closets can also offer safety.
Helmets or mattresses can also help shield against debris. According to the Arkansas Storm Team, the state averages about 37 tornadoes each year. However, Arkansas recorded 60 tornadoes in 2025 — underscoring the importance of being prepared.
For Breckenridge residents who lived through the destruction, those warnings carry even greater meaning.
“When you hear those sirens,” one resident said, “you just never know what could happen.”