2021 Flood Safety and Severe Weather Awareness Week

3/11/2021

March 11, 2021

W.Va. Governor declares March 15-19 Flood Safety and Severe Weather Awareness Week

Statewide Tornado Safety Drill to be held Tuesday March 16 at 11 a.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Governor Jim Justice has signed a proclamation designating March 15-19 as Flood Safety and Severe Weather Awareness Week in West Virginia.

The West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) and the National Weather Service in Charleston (NWS) will share flood safety and severe weather safety information throughout the week.

All West Virginians are encouraged to activate and practice their severe weather emergency plans during the Statewide Tornado Safety Drill set to take place at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 16.

During the Statewide Tornado Safety Drill, everyone must continue to observe COVID-19 precautions and Gov. Justice’s Executive Orders regarding face coverings and additional COVID-19 guidance.

The NWS, in partnership with WVEMD and the West Virginia Broadcasters Association, will issue a test tornado warning message. This message will be broadcast on local television and radio stations. The message will not be broadcast on cell phones.

Local jurisdictions have been invited to take part in the tornado drill and may use their emergency sirens or other public address systems.

"Severe weather and flooding are the most constant threat to lives and property in West Virginia. The Emergency Management Division is committed to ensuring our citizens are prepared for all types of hazards,” said WVEMD Director G.E. McCabe. “Testing your emergency plan during Severe Weather Awareness Week, whether with family members, co-workers, or classmates helps ensure we’ll all be ready for the next severe weather event in the state.”

Severe weather awareness and preparedness involves three steps:

1. Be Informed - Understand the types of hazardous weather that can affect you and your family and stay up to date on the weather forecast regularly at weather.gov or your favorite weather source. Sign up for localized alerts from emergency management officials.

2. Plan Ahead - Build an emergency kit and develop a severe weather plan that considers all types of local hazards and associated risks.

3. Take Action – When severe weather strikes, activate your severe weather emergency plan. After severe weather strikes, take action in your community.

Partner organizations and the media are encouraged to participate in the preparedness activities! Consider including the hashtag #WVSevereWx in your organization’s severe weather preparedness related social media posts.

Contact Information

Lora Lipscomb, WVEMD Public Information Officer