RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS) recently announced this year’s Virginia Statewide Tornado Drill will take place on Tuesday, March 11 at 9:45 a.m.
Every school, business, workplace, and family across the commonwealth is strongly encouraged to participate in the statewide tornado drill — an opportunity to practice tornado emergency plans, VDEM said.
To help track how many people are participating in tornado drill activities, participants are asked that register themselves or their organization.
During the drill:
- At Home: Get indoors to a pre-designated shelter area such as a basement, storm cellar or the lowest level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.
- In an office building, hospital, nursing home or public space: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building — away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.
- At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or windowless room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gymnasiums and auditoriums.
The tornado drill will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System via the Required Monthly Test (RMT), VDEM said, however, there will not be an actual Tornado Warning issued, and the notification will not be sent to cellular phones.
VDEM said NOAA Weather Radios may not sound an alarm at the time the RMT is issued, so participants will want to do one of the following: turn the radio on to listen to the broadcast by 9:40 a.m. and when you hear the alert, simply start your tornado drill at 9:45 a.m. If you do not have a NOAA Weather Radio, simply start your drill, and enact your safety plan at 9:45 a.m., the department added.
There will be no follow-up statements issued by the NWS to mark the end of the drill. It will simply be over when individuals, groups, schools, businesses, organizations, or families feel that they have adequately practiced their tornado shelter procedures.
For more information about the tornado drill and Severe Weather Awareness Week, visit here.
