Local County Emergency Management Agencies, Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD), National Weather Service (NWS), and Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) have joined together to promote Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa.
Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 22-26, is an opportunity to highlight the importance of being aware of, and prepared for, severe weather.
The annual statewide tornado drill will take place on Wednesday, March 24, beginning at 11 a.m. Schools, businesses, individuals, and state and local governments may participate, keeping in mind COVID-19 safety guidelines, including:
- Staying at least 6 feet from other people outside of your household in your shelter location if possible
- Wearing a mask
- Washing your hands often, cover coughs and sneeze
- Avoiding touching high-touch surfaces, such as handrails, as much as possible
These guidelines also apply if you must go to a public shelter or stay with family or friends during, or following, severe weather or other emergencies.
During the tornado drill, the siren tone will cycle throughout the KBOE/KMZN listening area as it does in a true emergency. The drill is an excellent time to review tornado safety plans and conduct tornado drills in companies, schools, and other facilities. Our local County Emergency Management Agencies encourage all organizations to participate.
Regular monthly testing is from April through October and occurs on the first Monday of the month at 11 a.m.
If a severe weather watch or warning is in effect for any County in the KBOE/KMZN listening area prior to 11 a.m. on a scheduled test day, the sirens should not be tested that day. Outdoor warning siren tests will resume on the next scheduled monthly date.
For each day during Severe Weather Awareness Week, a different subject will be featured:
- Monday– Severe thunderstorms
- Tuesday– Weather warnings
- Wednesday– Tornadoes
- Thursday– Family preparedness
- Friday– Flash floods
Severe Weather Awareness Week is a good time to review your family’s emergency plan and to check the contents of your emergency kit. Be sure to include in your emergency kit items you may need if you must shelter outside of your home, including masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes.
Learn more on sheltering safely and protecting yourself and others from COVID-19 at:
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/covid-19/public-disaster-shelter-during-covid.html
Additional information about the tornado drill can be found on local NWS websites.
For more information on severe weather preparedness, visit www.beready.iowa.gov
Follow HSEMD and NWS on social media using the hashtag #IAwx and #ReadyIowa
