Every year, North Carolina has a statewide tornado drill, and this year, it’s on Friday, March 7th at 9:30 AM. North Carolina is known for its diverse weather patterns and regularly experiences various types of severe weather, mainly hurricanes, but sometimes tornadoes as well. To make sure everyone in NC is prepared, the state conducts an annual statewide tornado drill, this also helps to raise awareness and understanding of tornado safety.
In NC, tornadoes typically strike between March and May, although they can occur at any time of the year, including late summer if there are more tropical storms. The drill was supposed to be on Wednesday, ⅗, but there were severe thunderstorms and a tornado watch, so the drill was moved to Friday. David Guffey, the school’s assistant principal and a very busy man, helped organize the drill for Green Level. When asked why a statewide tornado drill is important, Guffey said ¨its an important reminder of the processes and protocols we have to go through in the case of any severe weather. A great example is how schools actually went into emergency shelters because of the tornado warning on the other side of Cary, and it’s great to have a reminder to remember what to do and why.¨ North Carolina experiences an average of 31 tornadoes a year. Tornadoes strike suddenly, without warning, usually causing a lot of damage in a little amount of time, making it important to learn what to do if one happens.
The statewide drill aims to test the preparedness of every school, business and residence. People who participate in the drill can practice taking immediate action as if a tornado were striking, the drill also helps people remember where their shelter and safe spaces are, and practice the steps to say safe. It also shows the importance of preparedness in an emergency as well as having essential supplies like water, flashlights and first aid.
This year, ¨the National Weather Service and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety are teaming up to bring this severe weather safety campaign to all of North Carolina’s residents.¨ (from National Weather Service website) on the day of the drill a warning is issued and residents are encouraged to take shelter and follow the steps they would in a real emergency, not only does the drill prepare the public, but it also helps to identify areas where the state’s emergency response system may need improvement. By testing the system in a controlled setting, officials can evaluate how quickly information is communicated and how well communities respond to a warning.
