Updated:
January 27, 2009 10:12

Practice makes perfect: statewide tornado drill Wednesday, February 4th

If a tornado were to strike tomorrow, would you be prepared? Would you know what actions to take? In Florida, tornadoes strike all too often. Planning and practice are keys to tornado safety. Whether at home, school or business, everyone should have a plan in place for severe weather. The tornado drill gives Floridians a chance to test their plans and determine whether or not they are prepared. This is especially true in schools.

A very important part of Florida Hazardous Weather Awareness Week is the statewide tornado drill, Wednesday, February 4th. On the morning of the drill, all participants should consider themselves under a Tornado Watch. A watch means you should monitor the weather and be prepared to go a safe place in the event of a warning. At approximately 10:10 AM EST on Wednesday, February 4th, the National Weather Service forecast offices serving Florida will transmit a practice tornado warning. We will transmit this warning through NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System.  Some of your local Radio and TV stations and Emergency Management offices may also relay this warning in your area.

By 10:30 a.m., an “all-clear” message will be issued. Public and commercial broadcasters are encouraged to participate by broadcasting these messages immediately. For the Florida Panhandle counties within the Central time zone, all drill activities will be repeated one hour earlier (9:10 a.m. Central Standard Time).

In real life, you must listen for the watch and warning messages and determine the threat to your area. Then you should decide which protective actions to take. Important: When in doubt, take immediate protective action!

Plans may vary depending on the number of adults present, how vulnerable your location is, communications and a host of other factors. All Floridians should use the tornado drill to develop and practice their plans. Being prepared saves lives!

If actual severe weather threatens Florida on February 4th, the drill will be postponed until Friday, February 6th. Broadcasters and Cable companies: Since the Tornado Warning Product will go out as a live Tornado Warning it will trigger the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  If you do not wish the warning to go out live as an EAS Alert or Crawl on your system you must have someone available during the drill period to cancel the alert for your system.  Additionally, it is possible that multiple EAS alerts may be received by your station due to overlapping coverage of NWS areas of responsibility and various broadcast areas, and you must be alert for this possibility.  North Florida Broadcasters and Cable Companies with EAS responsibilities in Southern Georgia must also be aware that the State of Georgia’s Live Tornado Drill will be conducted from 9:10-30 a.m. EST and similar impacts can be expected during that time frame for their Georgia Counties.

2009 Statewide Tornado Drill TIMELINE

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Statewide Tornado Drill is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 4th at 10:10 AM EST / 9:10 AM CST.  If severe weather is threatening any portion of Florida on February 4th, then this drill will be rescheduled to Friday, February 6th at 10:10 AM EST / 9:10 AM CST.  This year’s drill will use actual tornado warning codes that will alert all NOAA All-Hazards Radios and EAS stations in Florida. School districts, private schools, preschools and daycare centers are urged to participate in the drill.