MO Statewide Tornado Drill and Severe Weather Awareness Week

JEFFERSON CITY – The National Weather Service, the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri's local emergency management offices urge Missourians to use Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 3-7, to plan and prepare for how they will react to tornadoes, flash flooding and other severe weather. Missouri will conduct the 40^th annual Statewide Tornado Drill on Tuesday, March 4 at 1:30 p.m. If severe weather is in the forecast on March 4, the drill will be moved to Thursday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m.

On March 4, Missouri outdoor warning sirens and weather alert radios will sound, indicating that Missourians should seek shelter during the statewide tornado drill. The safest shelter location is the basement or an interior room in the lowest level of a building. The drill is complete once everyone is accounted for in the designated shelters.

Remember:

· Tornado watch means watch the sky. A tornado may form during a thunderstorm.

· Tornado warning means seek shelter immediately.

· An interior room without windows on the lowest floor is the safest shelter location.

· Do not seek shelter in a cafeteria, gymnasium or other large open room because the roof might collapse.

· Immediately leave a mobile home to seek shelter in a nearby building.

· Overpasses are not safe. An overpass' under-the-girder-type construction can cause a dangerous wind tunnel effect.

· If you are driving, you should stop and take shelter in a nearby building.

· If you are driving in a rural area, drive away from the tornado to the closest building. If you cannot get away, seek shelter in a roadside ditch. Protect yourself from flying debris by covering your head with your arms, a coat or a blanket. Be prepared to move quickly in case the ditch fills with water

· Never drive into standing water. It can take less than six inches of fast moving water to make a slow moving car float. Once floating, a vehicle can overturn and sink.