The National Weather Service in Paducah will be conducting their annual statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning, and this year carries more weight than ever to the test.
Listeners to WHOP will hear the Emergency Alert System activate at about 9:07 Wednesday morning for the statewide tornado drill. Many communities will test their tornado sirens and NOAA weather radios will also activate, with Warning Coordination Meteorologist Christine Weilgos saying it will contain verbiage to educate the community and urge them to actually go through your plan in the event of a real tornado warning.
She says the National Weather Service will be posting information and videos throughout the next few weeks about how to best be prepared for severe weather and how to make a plan.
It’s important to note that outdoor sirens are meant to warn those who are outdoors about an impending tornado and those who are indoors should not rely on sirens to receive warnings.
Many counties, including Christian, have emergency text alert systems that can send warnings straight to your phone, and signing up is as easy as texting Christian County to 81437–individuals can figure out the way to sign up for their own counties by contacting their local emergency management offices. Officials also encourage having a battery-operated weather radio that can wake you up at night and doesn’t have to depend on electricity or internet to function.