Practice Preparing for Severe Weather for the week of March 2

Tornado Drill Scheduled for Wednesday

There will be a statewide tornado drill held during the week. It will take place on Wednesday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. Weather experts encourage schools, businesses, and families to participate in the drill.

Here's what you need to know:

• The drill will be broadcast on NOAA weather radio and the Emergency Alert System via the required monthly test. There will not be an actual tornado warning issued.
• Many NOAA weather radio receivers don’t sound an audible alert for the monthly test; instead, they may have a blinking light on the display. When the test for the tornado drill is initiated, there is a chance that your NOAA weather radio won’t sound an alarm, so you may want to do one of the following:
  • Manually turn on your NOAA weather radio receiver and listen to the broadcast to hear when the test is issued. That will mark the beginning of the statewide drill.
  • Or plan to start your tornado drill on your own at 9:30 a.m.
• There will be no follow-up statements issued by the Weather Service to mark the end of the drill. It will simply be over when you have adequately practiced your tornado shelter procedures.
• If severe weather occurs that morning, the statewide tornado drill will be postponed. The new date for the drill is Friday, March 7, at 9:30 a.m.
• This drill will replace the regular weekly NOAA weather radio alert test. That means the weekly radio test won’t be conducted between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on that day.

Where Can I Learn More?

Visit the National Weather Service’s local website for information about this important preparedness campaign.