Weather service planning statewide tornado drill

Missouri averages 26 tornadoes a year, according to the National Weather Service. In May 2003 alone, 15 tornadoes were reported in the state that caused the deaths of 19 people.

To prepare state residents for future tornadoes, the State Emergency Management Agency and the weather service will hold a statewide severe weather drill at 1:30 p.m. March 16.

The weather service will activate an emergency signal that will interrupt television and radio stations, alerting people that an ongoing test of a severe weather drill is underway.

"What this does is test the ability to get emergency information out," said Cape Girardeau County Emergency Operations Center director Dave Hitt. Tornado season in Missouri starts in April and generally runs until June, he said.

Participation encouraged

During this practice drill, individuals, businesses and schools are encouraged to practice where they would go and what they would do in case of a tornado.

Although nobody is required to participate, Hitt said, area schools generally have their one tornado drill a year during this statewide drill.

Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City will use the drill much like cities around the state, as an opportunity to prepare emergency responders for severe weather and give them the opportunity to practice disseminating emergency messages and review their operating guidelines for such a situation.

Hitt said 150 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios have been placed in area schools in the past few years. The radios are part of a nationwide network of radio stations that provide constant weather information and will signal an alert in the case of a weather emergency. These radios are available at stores such as Radio Shack and cost between $15 to $45.

"We encourage everyone to have one," Hitt said.

Helpful tools

He also said that the radios and warnings on television and regular radio are just some of the tools to let people know about approaching severe weather.

"The biggest thing is common sense," he said. "You can look at the clouds and know there's severe weather coming."

Once you know the weather looks potentially dangerous, Hitt said, the best thing to do is turn on the television or radio to listen for warnings and forecasts and get to shelter as soon as possible.

Suzie Stonner, a spokeswoman for SEMA, said basements or bathrooms without windows make the best shelter. "You always look for the most interior rooms," she said.

This is the 30th year the statewide drills have been held in Missouri. Stonner said they have made a difference in making people more aware.

Stonner said the severe weather alert will be activated at the same time across the state. The whole drill should only last about 10 minutes.

More of the state should be receiving emergency signals now that SEMA and the National Weather Service have worked on improving signal coverage in the state, she said.

In 1994, only two-thirds of the state was covered by a Doppler radar system that gave them advance warning of severe weather.

Since then, Stonner said the two agencies have worked with the Rural Electric Cooperative until almost 100 percent of the state now is covered by Doppler radar.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182