Statewide Tornado Drill to be conducted this Wednesday in accordance with Severe Weather Awareness Week

Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa is observed March 26-30 and includes the State of Iowa Tornado Drill Day taking place Wednesday, March 28, with Allamakee County authorities and communities planning to take part in this exercise. The drill should consist of the National Weather Service station out of La Crosse, WI issuing a mock tornado watch at around 10 a.m. that Wednesday followed by a tornado warning at 10:30 a.m., at which time the intent would be to activate community warning sirens.

Residents and businesses should use this as an opportunity to think about their plans for seeking shelter during an actual event. As part of his next monthly emergency management article, Allamakee County Emergency Management Director Corey Snitker plans to discuss the topic of severe weather awareness and readiness as weather patterns move into the spring and summer storm seasons.

Additionally, Snitker wants to remind residents of Waukon that warning sirens will normally be tested the first Thursday of every month in the morning around 10 a.m.