About 900,000 people across Virginia are expected to participate today in a statewide tornado drill, a move that state officials hope will reinforce what to do in the event a tornado touches down.
At 9:45 a.m., the National Weather Service will trigger an alert message on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio and on the Emergency Alert System, which plays on local television and radio stations.
The broadcasts simulate what listeners would hear during a tornado warning, according to a Virginia Department of Emergency Management news release.
In the event of an actual tornado, VDEM encourages people to move as quickly as possible to a basement or interior room in a sturdy building. Windows should be avoided. Once in a safe place, people should crouch or sit down and cover their heads.
Last year, 12 tornadoes across Virginia caused several injuries and more than $700,000 in property damage. A 2011 tornado cut through Kingsmill and Grove in James City County causing injuries and destroying homes.
The drill is sponsored by VDEM and NWS. Register for the drill and learn more about tornado safety by visiting VDEM’s website readyvirginia.gov.
