Practice tornado safety during statewide drill March 16 -- more than 528,000 have registered to participate

Posted March 1, 2010
By Virginia Department of Emergency Management

03/01/2010 - RICHMOND, Va. — Tornado drills are not just for schoolchildren. In fact, 16 tornadoes struck Virginia last year and not one of them hit during school hours. All Virginians should practice tornado safety by conducting drills at home, at work and at school. To reinforce this citizen call to action, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has declared March 16, "Tornado Preparedness Day."

No part of Virginia is immune from tornadoes. They can hit at any time of the year and at any time of the day. There are two things that every family, business and organization should do to get ready:

• Get a NOAA weather radio with SAME alerts.
• Participate in the statewide tornado drill Tuesday, March 16, at 9:45 a.m.

"NOAA weather radios are the best way of getting tornado warnings," said Bill Sammler, National Weather Service (NWS) warning coordination meteorologist. "A network of radio stations broadcasts weather data from the nearest NWS office. When a tornado warning is issued, the weather radio sounds an alarm followed by information on where the storm is, which way it's moving, while telling people in its path to take cover, added Sammler."

SAME alerts stands for Specific Area Message Encoding, a feature that lets you program your radio for your area. NOAA weather radios are available at electronics and sporting goods stores, department stores, boating stores and via the internet. They come in battery-powered models and many also have AM/FM band. Some have strobe lights for the hearing impaired. Prices start at about $30.

Everyone should practice taking cover from tornadoes, stressed state officials. During the statewide tornado drill, which is a joint VDEM and NWS effort, schools, businesses, organizations and families are encouraged to participate.

At 9:45 a.m., the NWS will send a "test" tornado warning on NOAA weather radio. This will prompt radio and television stations to broadcast a test message. Some NOAA weather radios will not automatically turn on when receiving a "test" signal, so participants should turn on their radios approximately five minutes before the start of the drill.

"Emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility," said Michael Cline, VDEM state coordinator. "Make it part of your family emergency plan to have a tornado drill at least once a year. The more you practice, the better able you will be to respond to an emergency."

To learn more about conducting a tornado drill, and to register your participation in the March 16 statewide drill, visit www.vaemergency.com.