O’Brien County, Iowa — This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa, and a part of that will be a statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning, in conjunction with the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls.
O’Brien County Emergency Management Coordinator Jerad Johnson tells us more.
Johnson says the times for the drill are approximate. He talks about what will happen once the O’Brien County 911 Center receives the drill Tornado Warning from the National Weather Service.
He says the entire drill should last about 35 to 40 minutes. He says the drills are important to get people into the right mindset for severe weather season, and also provides an opportunity to test the outdoor warning system throughout O’Brien County.
Johnson says there are more Severe Weather Awareness Week topics after Wednesday’s statewide tornado drill.
You can find the information on that Emergency Supply Kit that Jerad talked about by CLICKING HERE.
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Original story posted 10:53am, March 26, 2018
Northwest Iowa — This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. Every year, hundreds of people are killed and thousands injured, in the United States, because of the weather. Dangerous weather can take many forms, ranging from violent tornadoes to crippling winter storms. With the notable exception of hurricanes, Iowa can experience any of these dangerous phenomena.
Todd Heitkamp is a meterologist with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, and he says Severe Weather Awareness Week is designed to bring the threat of severe weather back into people’s consciousness.
Heitkamp says severe weather, including tornadoes, can happen almost any time of the year in our area.
He says the primary focus of Severe Weather Awareness Week will be on a Tornado Drill that’s scheduled for Wednesday morning.
While there is nothing we can do to stop dangerous weather from affecting us, there are things we can do to stay safe when the weather turns nasty. Weather safety and survival – no matter what the hazard – depends on the following key items:
1. KNOW THE HAZARDS – Be aware of the hazards that you might face during a weather event.
2. KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT DANGEROUS WEATHER – Monitor forecasts and information from KIWA Radio.
3. PAY ATTENTION – Be aware of all watches, warnings, and advisories affecting you.
4. HAVE A PLAN TO STAY SAFE – Think about it before it happens and be ready to act to survive.
