Virginia Statewide Tornado Drill
Tornadoes can occur any month of the year. In 2018, 31 confirmed tornadoes touched down throughout the Commonwealth impacting 21 different jurisdictions,
These storms are a stark reminder that Virginians must prepare for the possibility of tornadoes and other natural disasters. Virginia’s annual Statewide Tornado Drill will take place Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at 9:45 a.m. (If widespread severe weather threatens the commonwealth on that date, then the drill will be rescheduled for Wednesday, March 20, at 9:45 a.m.)
The Statewide Tornado Drill is a yearly opportunity to prepare Virginians for tornado emergencies and to test public warning systems.
“When a tornado warning is issued, that isn’t the time to figure out how to keep your loved ones, coworkers, friends and neighbors safe,” said State Coordinator of Emergency Management Dr. Jeff Stern. “Virginians should use the statewide tornado drill on March 19 as an opportunity to test their tornado emergency procedures and discuss preparedness efforts for these deadly and unexpected storms which can touch down in Virginia throughout the year.”
The drill will start at approximately 9:45 a.m. with a test tornado warning sent by the National Weather Service to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios. NOAA weather radios will sound a tone alert and show a test message (or flash to indicate a message) to simulate what people would hear or see during an actual tornado warning. Local radio stations, TV stations and cable outlets will broadcast the test message via the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Participants, including individual schools and businesses, should register for the drill with VDEM.
"Tornadoes can occur any month of the year. In 2018, 31 confirmed tornadoes touched down throughout the Commonwealth impacting 21 different jurisdictions,” said Jeff Orrock of the National Weather Service in Wakefield. “Tornadoes occurred last year as early as January and as late as November. Have a plan, know your location and surroundings and have a way to receive Watches and Warnings from the National Weather Service. Check to see if your smartphone is set to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts. When a tornado watch is issued for your area, review your plan and know where to seek safe shelter when a tornado warning is issued.”
Show your support by registering for the tornado drill. In recent years, 1 million Virginians have signed up for the drill. REGISTER HERE
Goochland's CodeRed Emergency Alert System
Everyone who lives or works in Goochland is urged to register for Goochland’s CodeRED emergency alert system. This system is used by Goochland County to communicate with citizens during emergencies. The system allows citizens to opt in to receive National Weather Service (NWS) alerts automatically when a weather event (flood, tornado, etc.) is triggered in a targeted area of the County. For more information and to sign up visit: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/1380BACA5A57
