Northwest Iowa — This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa, and a part of that will be a statewide tornado drill this Wednesday morning, in conjunction with the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls.
A test tornado warning will go out during the 10 a.m. hour on Wednesday, weather permitting.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Peter Rogers with the Weather Service’s Sioux Falls office tells us that they used to send a real tornado warning calling it a “test.” But now they send the message as part of their weekly test. That means that automatic equipment may not do what it usually does. But Rogers says the reason for the change is that there have been instances where the TEST warning has been disseminated as an actual warning and caused public confusion. He says Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management made the change. Rogers says besides checking sirens and other emergency equipment, the test is also an opportunity for the public to test their tornado plan. He says people need to think about where they would go if a tornado warning were issued when they are in various places that they go, such as home, work, school, daycare, and so forth.
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.
When you hear the siren, hear the alert on the radio, 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.
The weather service also reminds you that when an actual tornado warning is issued this year — that you should 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.
