This Week is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week, Mock Drills on Thursday
Monday, April 8th, 2019 -- 10:16 AM
-Clark County Emergency Management, Wisconsin Emergency Management, ReadyWisconsin and the National Weather Service have teamed up for Wisconsin’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week, this week, April 8th-12th.On Thursday, April 11th, a statewide tornado drill is planned. At 1:00pm, the National Weather Service will issue a statewide mock tornado watch and at 1:45pm a statewide mock tornado warning. Many radio and TV stations will participate in the drill. In addition, NOAA weather radios, also known as emergency weather radios, will issue alert messaging. This is an ideal opportunity for schools, businesses and families to practice safe procedures for severe weather. There will be a second drill at 6:45 PM. A Mock Tornado Warning will be issued. There will be no Mock Tornado Watch issued with the evening drill. Clark County will be participating in the drill and outdoor warning sirens will be activated. Important: The tornado drill will take place even if the sky is cloudy, dark and/or rainy. If actual severe storms are expected in the state on Thursday April 11, the tornado drill will be postponed until Friday, April 12 with the same times. If severe storms are possible Friday the drill will be cancelled.
According to the NWS, Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually. Last year, there were 33 confirmed tornadoes in the state. Almost all of the tornadoes were either an EF0 or EF1 with the exception of an EF2 in Dodge County. The peak tornado season in Wisconsin is April to August, but tornadoes can occur any time of year, like the January 7, 2008 storms near Kenosha. In addition to tornadoes, Wisconsin is also susceptible to the hazards associated with severe thunderstorms such as high winds, flooding, lightning, and large hail. It is important that that governments, schools, businesses, and private citizens be aware of how to recognize when severe weather threatens them and what to do in the event of dangerous weather conditions.
Some ways you can stay safe in a storm is, in a home or building, avoid windows. Move to a basement. If a basement is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and cover yourself with towels, blankets or pillows. Put as many walls as possible between you and the storm. Wearing a bike helmet will help protect your head. If outdoors, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you cannot get to shelter, stay in your vehicle with the seatbelt on and place your head below the windows. Do not seek shelter under an overpass. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the designated storm shelter or the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building. At school, go to the interior hall or room. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.
Clark County Emergency Management strongly encourages everyone to participate in the drill and take the necessary steps to prepare for emergencies and weather hazards not only at home but also at school and places of employment. Have a Disaster plan as well as preparing Disaster Supply Kits for home and your vehicle to include such things as drinking water, non-perishable food, flashlights, radios, batteries, along with blankets and spare clothing among other items. Information regarding preparedness can be found at websites such as ready.gov and other such as the ReadyWisconsin website, American Red Cross website and Clark County Emergency Management website.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.