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Richmond, VA - The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS) would like to announce this year’s Virginia Statewide Tornado Drill. The statewide tornado drill will be 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. To help us track how many people are participating in tornado drill activities, we ask that you register yourself or your organization. This is an opportunity to practice your tornado emergency plan.
During the drill:
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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.
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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.
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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). There WILL NOT be an actual Tornado Warning issued, and the notification WILL NOT be sent to cellular phones.
Most NOAA Weather Radio receivers, including the Midland WR-100, do not sound an audible alert for the RMT product, but instead, may have a blinking light on the display to indicate that an RMT was received. As such, when the RMT for the drill is initiated, there’s a good chance that your NOAA Weather Radio will not automatically sound an alarm.
Since your NOAA Weather Radio may not sound an alarm at the time the RMT is issued, you will want to do one of the following: turn your 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.
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, please visit here.
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For more information, please contact us at PIO@vdem.virginia.gov
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