Northwest 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.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Peter Rogers with the Weather Service tells us what to expect in the 10 a.m. hour on Wednesday morning.
Weather Service and emergency management authorities tell us the times for the drill are approximate.
When the warning is issued, things will proceed just like they would for an actual tornado warning. The 911 dispatch centers will receive the warning and will activate the tornado sirens in all of their communities. KIWA will receive the warning too, and the EAS tones will go out, indicating a tornado warning for our area.
When you hear the siren, hear the alert on KIWA, or receive the warning in another way, they ask that you and your family do what you would normally do if a tornado were actually imminent. Go to your basement or place of safety, and practice your plan.
Rogers tells us what a tornado actually is.
The weather service also reminds you to listen to the entire warning so you know what to expect, as a tornado warning is issued for everything from minor tornadoes all the way up to the largest, multiple vortex tornadoes.
Officials also remind you that not all tornados happen when you’re at home, so they say you should practice other scenarios as well.
