MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker has declared April 9-13 as Wisconsin's Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Tanna McKeon, director of Green County Emergency Management, urges schools, businesses, families and individuals to take advantage of this time to test their emergency plans.
The statewide tornado drills will be April 12. A mock tornado watch will be issued at 1 p.m. followed by a mock tornado warning at 1:45 p.m. A mock tornado warning also will be conducted at 6:45 p.m. to give families and second-shift workers a chance to test their emergency plans.
Many area municipalities will be testing their warning sirens and radio and TV stations across the state will issue the tornado warning tests. In addition, mock alerts will be issued on NOAA Weather Radios.
Be sure weather radios are turned on for this test. If the alarm on a weather radio does not go off for this test, check the weather radio's programming and quality of reception.
Last year, there were 23 tornado touchdowns in the state, which is average for Wisconsin. While most were either EF0 or EF1, the state did record an EF3 in May. The tornado followed an 83-mile path across Polk, Barron, Rusk and Price counties, killing one person and causing widespread damage. Two EF1 tornadoes caused extensive damage June 28 north of Monroe.
By taking immediate cover after receiving the tornado warning on a cell phone, one couple narrowly missed being seriously injured when their home was extensively damaged by the tornado. According to the National Weather Service, that tornado had winds up to 105 mph, travelled for 2.1 miles and was 300 feet wide.
Tanna McKeon, director of Green County Emergency Management, urges schools, businesses, families and individuals to take advantage of this time to test their emergency plans.
The statewide tornado drills will be April 12. A mock tornado watch will be issued at 1 p.m. followed by a mock tornado warning at 1:45 p.m. A mock tornado warning also will be conducted at 6:45 p.m. to give families and second-shift workers a chance to test their emergency plans.
Many area municipalities will be testing their warning sirens and radio and TV stations across the state will issue the tornado warning tests. In addition, mock alerts will be issued on NOAA Weather Radios.
Be sure weather radios are turned on for this test. If the alarm on a weather radio does not go off for this test, check the weather radio's programming and quality of reception.
Last year, there were 23 tornado touchdowns in the state, which is average for Wisconsin. While most were either EF0 or EF1, the state did record an EF3 in May. The tornado followed an 83-mile path across Polk, Barron, Rusk and Price counties, killing one person and causing widespread damage. Two EF1 tornadoes caused extensive damage June 28 north of Monroe.
By taking immediate cover after receiving the tornado warning on a cell phone, one couple narrowly missed being seriously injured when their home was extensively damaged by the tornado. According to the National Weather Service, that tornado had winds up to 105 mph, travelled for 2.1 miles and was 300 feet wide.
