Virginia’s Tornado Preparedness Day is Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Virginia’s Tornado Preparedness Day is Tuesday, March 22. At 9:45 a.m. on that day, the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety along with the Commonwealth of Virginia, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, will conduct a statewide tornado drill so that schools, businesses, and families can practice their tornado emergency plans.
As experienced in our region in February, tornadoes can form with little or no warning and are capable of producing winds in excess of 200 miles per hour. The recent tornado outbreak tragically took four lives and caused minor to significant damage to personal property in the Commonwealth. A fifth death was confirmed as a result of flooding following torrential rainfall.
A tornado’s fast and unpredictable movement and destructive force cause injuries, deaths and millions of dollars in damages annually to residential and commercial structures. To make people more aware of the threat that tornadoes present and to help them prepare, the state-wide tornado drill was established.
The drill will start at approximately 9:45 a.m. with a test tornado warning sent by the NWS to NOAA Weather Radios. NOAA Weather radios will sound a tone alert and show a message (or flash to indicate a message) to simulate what people will hear or see during an actual tornado warning. The test message then will be broadcast by many local radio and TV stations, and cable outlets.
The York County Department of Fire and Life Safety will have department members at many of York County’s public schools to provide assistance to school staff as the students conduct the “duck and cover” portion of the drill, as well as monitor each of the NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radios (NWR) located in the administrative offices of the school. Most schools will participate on March 22 or on other days as their schedule allows.
“The recent tornadic activity the resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to countless others have brought tornado awareness to residents in our region,” said York County Fire Chief Stephen P. Kopczynski. “With the recent events fresh in our minds, it is my hope that citizens, businesses, and visitors will take time during and after this year’s drill to plan for and better understand our tornado threat. We encourage everyone to be aware and be prepared, as tornados often strike with little or no advanced warning.”
There is no such thing as a “tornado season.” Tornadoes can strike anywhere, anytime, and you need to know the drill. There are simple, low-cost steps that families can take to be ready: get a kit, make a plan and stay informed. Families and businesses are strongly encouraged to have a NOAA weather radio (with battery backup) and monitor it regularly. For more weather safety and preparedness information, please visit the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety’s Emergency Preparedness Website, Ready York County at www.readyyorkcountyvirginia.
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