ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – Statewide tornado drills commenced in Missouri and Illinois at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning to give residents in the bi-state region the chance to practice sheltering in place and ensure their readiness when severe weather strikes.
Severe weather can strike at any given moment in the Midwest. When the National Weather Service performs routine tests of their NOAA weather radio, emergency management areawide activates their sirens to participate in the drill.
Today’s drill gives businesses, schools, and families a chance to practice their planning and readiness to be able to quickly respond to and seek appropriate shelter.
“When the National Weather Service sends out their routine weekly tests through the NOAA weather radio, we will then activate the sirens,” Jani Albright, director of emergency management for St. Charles County, said. “We step outside and listen to them, just like we encourage other people to do on siren test days, to make sure the signal we sent was received and that the sirens are activated.”
We had a firsthand look at how St. Charles County Emergency Management sounds the tornado sirens. They listen carefully as well as monitor ongoing weather conditions. When the National Weather Service in St. Louis issues a tornado warning, they activate the sirens.
“If you’re lucky enough to hear a siren inside your house, we want you to immediately take shelter and then seek information. Not the reverse,” Albright said. “We don’t want you to stop and look at your phone; wonder why the siren is going off. We want you to immediately seek shelter and then seek additional information. Whether that be through your NOAA weather radio, through your cellphone, or your local media channels.”