SEVER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK

Cape Girardeau County residents along with people across Missouri will join in observing Severe Weather Awareness Week March 4-8.

The annual observance is designed to increase public awareness about the weather hazards and disasters common to Missouri, including tornadoes, flash floods and lightening.

The State Emergency Management Agency will conduct a statewide tornado drill with the National Weather Service on Tuesday. Local emergency managers will call schools, hospitals and industries to tell them about the drill.

Martha Vandivort, who works for the Cape County Emergency Management Agency, said she hopes the drill will make people think about weather hazards.

"People should be aware that they live in a zone where tornadoes happen with unfortunate regularity," she said. "We want to remind people what to do when a tornado is approaching."

Area residents should realize that a tornado watch means conditions are right for a tornado, but a tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted and people should take shelter, Vandivort said.

If they are inside, they should go to interior rooms with no windows on the building's lowest floor. Mobile-home residents and people in cars should take shelter in a ditch or ravine away from cars or mobile homes.

In case of bad weather, the backup date for Tuesday's drill will be March 7.