Thursday, March 28, 2024
47.9 F
Kilmarnock

Tornado drill set Tuesday

Statewide Tornado Drill set Tuesday, March 21

RICHMOND—On February 24, 2016, Virginia was hit by the deadliest tornado event since 1959, resulting in five fatalities and more than 45 injuries. An EF-1 tornado touched down in Waverly, an EF-3 tornado affected Appomattox County and another EF-3 tornado hit the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck region.

The National Weather Service (NWS) verified that eight tornadoes struck Virginia during that storm.

These storms are a stark reminder that Virginians must prepare for the possibility of tornadoes and other natural disasters. Virginia’s annual Statewide Tornado Drill will take place at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 21. If widespread severe weather threatens the Commonwealth on that date, the drill will be rescheduled for 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 22.

The Statewide Tornado Drill is an opportunity to prepare Virginians for tornado emergencies and to test public warning systems.

“Thirteen months ago, many Virginians heard the warning broadcasts of a tornado warning in their area and were forced to get themselves, their families and co-workers to safety,” said state coordinator of emergency management Dr. Jeff Stern. “But an actual tornado warning isn’t the time to figure out how to keep your loved ones and friends safe. Virginians should use the statewide tornado drill tomorrow as an opportunity to test their tornado emergency procedures and discuss preparedness efforts for these deadly and unexpected storms which can touch down in Virginia almost any time.”

The drill will start with a test tornado warning sent by the National Weather Service to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios. NOAA weather radios will sound a tone alert and show a test message or flash to indicate a message, to simulate what people would hear or see during an actual tornado warning. Radio stations, TV stations and cable outlets will broadcast the test message via the Emergency Alert System.

“Tornadoes can occur any month of the year and Virginia averages 16 tornadoes each year,” said Bill Sammler of the NWS in Wakefield. “When a tornado watch is issued for your area, know where to seek safe shelter should a tornado warning be issued.”

Show your support by registering for the tornado drill at surveymonkey.com/r/2017VirginiaTornadoDrill. In recent years, 1 million Virginians have signed up for the drill.

Find out how to keep loved ones and property safe during tornadoes, at vaemergency.gov/prepare-recover/threat/tornadoes.

Rappahannock Record Staff
Rappahannock Record Staffhttp://www.rrecord.com
From the Rappahannock Record news team

Follow us on Social Media

Your Local Weather

Kilmarnock
light rain
47.9 ° F
48.7 °
46.7 °
97 %
1.3mph
100 %
Thu
50 °
Fri
58 °
Sat
64 °
Sun
67 °
Mon
59 °