RUSTBURG, VA - Campbell County Department of Public Safety will recognize Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 4-8, 2024. Citizens are encouraged to prepare for severe weather before it happens, and take part in the coordinated Tornado Drill on March 7.
Severe Weather Awareness Week, an annual, collaborative effort with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS) is designed to refresh, remind, and educate everyone about the seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid them. It’s also a great time to make and practice your household's emergency plan.
Each day during the week, a different topic is highlighted and shared via our social media outlets. Items such as preparedness tips as well as resources for those wishing to teach their families about weather-related safety measures.
As part of the week's awareness efforts, Virginia’s annual Statewide Tornado Drill will occur on Tues., March 7 at 9:45 a.m. If widespread severe weather threatens the Commonwealth on that date, the drill will be rescheduled for Thursday, March 9, at 9:45 a.m.
The Statewide Tornado Drill is an opportunity to prepare Virginians for tornado threats and to test public warning systems. The drill will start at approximately 9:45 a.m. with a test tornado warning sent in the form of a Required Monthly Test by the National Weather Service to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios and local broadcasters. Since this year's drill will use the Required Monthly Test, most NOAA weather radios will NOT automatically sound an alert tone.
For those participating in the drill, including schools and businesses, it is suggested to turn on your NOAA Weather Radio by 9:40 am, listening to the voice broadcast. Those with their NOAA Weather Radio on and listening to the broadcast will hear the audible test alert broadcast at 9:45 am. Local radio stations, TV stations and cable outlets will also broadcast the test message via the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Information and resources are available at: https://www.weather.gov/akq/SevereWeatherAwareness.