Full Notification

For more information contact:
Jane Gervais, Adams County Emergency Management Director
608-339-4248

For Immediate Release – April 1, 2016

Wisconsin’s Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week
April 11-15, 2016

(FRIENDSHIP) – To give families a chance to test their emergency plans, a statewide tornado drill will be held during the evening of April 14, 2016. The drill is part of the annual spring severe weather campaign to encourage people in Wisconsin to get ready for possible tornadoes and severe weather.
Governor Walker has declared April 11-15, 2016 as Wisconsin’s Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week. Wisconsin Emergency Management, the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) have once again teamed up to sponsor the statewide tornado drill scheduled for Thursday, April 14.
For the first time, a mock tornado warning will be issued at 6:55 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 to give families and businesses a chance to test their emergency severe weather plans. Earlier in the day, a mock tornado watch will be issued at 1:00 p.m. and a mock tornado warning will be issued at 1:45 p.m. Many radio and TV stations across the state will issue the test tornado warnings. In addition, mock alerts will be issued on NOAA Weather Radios and many communities will sound their tornado sirens.
According to the NWS, Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually. Last year, there were 17 tornado touchdowns in the state. All of the tornadoes were either an EF0 or EF1. On August 19, 2015, two tornadoes touched down near Lake Geneva and Big Bend causing damage to area businesses. No one was injured.
The statewide tornado drill is a great opportunity for schools, businesses and families to test their emergency plans about what to do and where to go when severe weather strikes. The tornado drill will take place even if the sky is cloudy, dark and or rainy. If actual severe storms are expected in the state on Thursday, April 14, the tornado drills will be postponed until Friday, April 15 with the same times. If severe storms are possible Friday, the drills will be cancelled.
Any changes will be issued to local media as well as posted on the ReadyWisconsin website at http://readywisconsin.wi.gov. Updates will also be posted on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ReadyWisconsin), Twitter (www.twitter.com/ReadyWisconsin) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/ReadyWisconsin).
Additional maps and information are also posted at http://readywiscosnin.wi.gov. If you need further information place contact your local Emergency Management Director at 608-339-4248 or Tod Pritchard at [email protected] or 608-242-3324.



2016 Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Drills
Scheduled for Thursday April 14, 2016
The 2016 Tornado Drills will consist of a mock tornado watch and a mock tornado warning issued for all of Wisconsin. This is a great opportunity for your school, business and community to practice your emergency plans.
DRILL SCHEDULE:
1:00 p.m. – National Weather Service issues a mock tornado watch for all of Wisconsin (a watch means tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms).
1:45 p.m. - National Weather Service issues mock tornado warning for all of Wisconsin (a warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated on weather radar. Move to a safe place immediately).
2:00 p.m. – End of 1:45 p.m. mock tornado warning drill
6:55 p.m. – National Weather Service issues a mock tornado warning for all of Wisconsin.
The tornado drills will take place even if the sky is cloudy, dark and/or rainy. If actual severe storms are expected in the state on Thursday, April 14, the tornado drills will be postponed until Friday, April 15 with the same times. If severe storms are possible Friday, the drills will be cancelled. Any changes will be issued to local media as well as posted on the ReadyWisconsin website at http://readywisconsin.wi.gov. Updates will also be posted on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ReadyWisconsin), Twitter (www.twitter.com/ReadyWisconsin) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/ReadyWisconsin).
Many local and state radio, TV and cable stations will be participating in the drills. Television viewers and radio station listeners will hear a message at 1:45 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. indicating that “This is a test.” The mock tornado warnings will last about one minute on radio and TV stations across Wisconsin and when the test is finished, stations will return to normal programming.
In addition, alerts for both the mock tornado watch and warnings will be issued over NOAA weather radios. Be sure your weather radio is turned on for this test. If the alarm on your weather radio does not go off for this test, check your weather radio's programming and quality of reception.
This is a great opportunity for you to practice your tornado emergency plan with family, friends, and co-workers. Schools will also participate in the drill. During storm season – follow this message: Listen, Act and Live. Don’t ignore watches and warnings. Listen and take action. Every second counts. Don’t wait... go to a safe place right away!

Tornado Safety Before the Storm:
· Develop a plan for you and your family for home, work, school and outdoors. Know the safest shelter areas in multiple locations.
· Have frequent drills.
· Keep a disaster supply kit in your home including water, food that won’t spoil and needs no heat to serve, first-aid kit, NOAA weather radio (also known as an emergency weather radio), a flashlight and special items for children, pets and elderly family members.
· Be sure your weather radio is working properly. Spring is a great time to install fresh batteries.

Tornado Safety at Home, Work, or at Play
Listen, Act, and Live
· In a home or building, avoid windows. Move to a basement, and get under a sturdy table or the stairs. If a basement is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and cover yourself with towels, blankets or pillows. If possible, get under a sturdy table, desk or counter. Put as many walls as possible between you and the storm. Wearing a bike helmet will help protect your head.
· If outdoors, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you cannot get to shelter, stay in your vehicle with the seatbelt on and place your head below the windows. Do not seek shelter under an overpass.
· Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the designated storm shelter or the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building.
· At school, go to the interior hall or room. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

Instructions:

The 2016 Tornado Drills will consist of a mock tornado watch and a mock tornado warning issued for all of Wisconsin.