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Awareness week in Wis. will bring tornado drills Thursday
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MONROE - This week, April 11-15, is Wisconsin's Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week. Green County Emergency Management, Wisconsin Emergency Management, the National Weather Service and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association have again teamed up to sponsor the statewide tornado drill scheduled for Thursday.

The mock tornado watch will be issued at 1 p.m. A mock tornado warning then will be issued statewide at 1:45 p.m.

In addition, for the first time, a mock tornado warning will also be issued at 6:55 p.m. Most tornado touchdowns occur between 4 and 9 p.m., so this second tornado drill was added to allow families and businesses the chance to test their tornado and severe weather plans.

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, the tornado drills will be postponed until Friday, with the same times. If severe storms are possible Friday, the drills will be canceled.

Some communities in the area may be blowing their tornado sirens during the mock warnings. Many radio and TV stations across the state also issue the test tornado warnings. Mock alerts will be issued on NOAA weather radios, and many radio and TV stations across the state also issue the mock alerts.

The statewide tornado drill is an opportunity for schools, businesses and families to test their emergency plans about what to do and where to go when severe weather strikes. During Tornado Awareness week, Green County Emergency Management will be giving away several weather radios and a first aid kit. Go to its website at www.greencountyem.com and its Facebook page for more information. GCEM's website provides information and resources to help with emergency preparedness plans or call 608-328-9416.