03/07/2024
Just a friendly heads up today is Virginias Statewide tornado drill, it’ll happen at 9:45 AM ET. This helps promote Severe weather awareness week here’s some facts about it
The drill will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System via the Required Monthly Test (RMT). There WILL NOT be an actual Tornado Warning issued.
Most NOAA Weather Radio receivers (including the Midland WR-100 that many schools have) DO NOT sound an audible alert for the RMT product, but instead, may have a blinking light on the display to indicate that an RMT was received. As such, when the RMT for the statewide tornado drill is initiated at 9:45 AM on Thursday, March 7, 2024, there's a good chance that your NOAA Weather Radio will not automatically sound an alarm.
Since your NOAA Weather Radio may not sound an alarm at the time the RMT is issued, you will want to do one of the following: turn your radio on to listen to the broadcast by 9:40 am and when you hear the alert, simply start your tornado drill at 9:45 AM. If you do not have a NOAA Weather Radio simply start your drill and enact your safety plan at 9:45 AM.
There will be no followup statements issued by the NWS to mark the end of the statewide tornado drill. It will simply be over when your group, school, business, organization, or family feel that you have adequately practiced your tornado shelter procedures.
All schools and some workplaces also use this as a training.
So if you radio gets interrupted or you get a phone alert don’t worry, it’s a test for the NWS.
The only time this will be postponed or canceled is if there is any severe weather across the KLWX WFO Coverage area.
How many people did this in school? -CJ
