Statewide tornado drill set for Tuesday

Several area communities will participate in a statewide tornado drill Tuesday, as state emergency management recognizes Severe Weather Awareness Week.

A drill is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Cape Girardeau, Scott City, Jackson and on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. If Missouri is experiencing severe weather conditions statewide the drill will be moved to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The drill be will initiated by the National Weather Service and each of the cities' 911 dispatch centers will activate the outdoor tornado sirens. The drill will take approximately 15 minutes.

According to the National Weather Service, Missouri experienced 65 tornadoes in 2010 including multiple tornadoes on Dec. 31. Five died and 13 people were injured. Four of the five people killed were in mobile homes when the tornadoes struck.

The National Weather Service encourages residents to practice seeking shelter or think about their safety actions when they hear the sirens.