Community Corner

Statewide Tornado Drill

Virginia will be participating in a statewide tornado drill, Arlington will be testing the outdoor warning system speakers.

At 9:45 a.m. Tuesday morning, Virginia will be participating in a statewide tornado drill. 

To start the drill, the National Weather Service will send a test tornado warning that will trigger a tone alert and message on NOAA Weather Radio, simulating what listeners will hear during an actual tornado warning. This will prompt radio and television stations to broadcast a test message.

During the drill, you should go immediately to the lowest level of your home, office or school building and move to a windowless interior hallway, room or closet. Then take a “drop, cover and hold” position. This means crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down and covering your head with your hands.

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Arlington Alert issued this release about the drill: "The Office of Emergency Management will conduct a test the outdoor warning system speakers on Tuesday March 15, 2011 between the hours of 10:00 AM and Noon. There will be a series of 3 loud beeps, followed by a voice broadcast saying it is a test of the system, in both English and Spanish. The system is being broadcast in the Rosslyn, Courthouse and Pentagon City areas of the County."

Tornado Safety Tips (Courtesy of Prince William Department of Fire and Rescue) 

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  • Develop a safety plan for you and your family for home, work, school and when outdoors.
  • Practice your plan. Review the plan on days when severe weather is forecast for your area.
  • Prepare to shelter in place if ordered.
  • Register for alerts, watches and warnings on the Arlington Alert service at https://www.arlingtonalert.com/index.php?CCheck=1 . 
  • Open buildings (shopping malls, gymnasiums or civic centers): Try to get into the restroom or an interior hallway. Try to get up against something that will support or deflect falling debris. Protect your head by covering it with your arms.
  • Automobiles: Get out of your vehicle and try to find shelter inside a sturdy building. A culvert or ditch can provide shelter if a substantial building is not nearby — lie down flat and cover your head with your hands.
  • Do not take shelter under a highway overpass or bridge; debris could get blown under them or the structures themselves could be destroyed. 
  • Outdoors: Try to find shelter in the nearest substantial building. If no buildings are close, lie down flat in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.
  • Mobile homes: Do not stay in mobile homes. Leave immediately and seek shelter inside a nearby sturdy building or lie down in a ditch away from your home, covering your head with your hands. Mobile homes are extremely unsafe during tornadoes.
  • Assemble a Tornado Safety Kit containing:
    • First aid kit and essential medications
    • Battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries
    • Canned food and manual can opener
    • Bottled water
    • Sturdy shoes and work gloves
    • Also include in the kit written instructions on how to turn off your home's utilities. 
  • Have a NOAA All Hazard Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery backup to receive updated forecasts and critical information such as watches and warnings.
  • Change the batteries during spring and fall when you change your clocks (spring forward, fall back)

-- Information from the Prince William Department of Fire and Rescue. 


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