Statewide Tornado Exercise scheduled for today

The Statewide Tornado Exercise is scheduled to take place twice today; this morning between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. and this evening between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m.

To focus attention upon the rapidly approaching tornado and severe weather season, Governor Pence has proclaimed the week of March 16-22, 2014 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week throughout the State of Indiana. The purpose of this proclamation is to stress the importance of promoting the public’s awareness of what actions to take in case of tornadoes and other types of severe weather.

In conjunction with this proclamation, and in cooperation with the National Weather Service, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana State Police, Thursday, March 20, 2014 has been selected as the date for the Statewide Tornado Exercise.

Should actual severe weather be a threat that day, the exercise will be held on March 21st .

There will be two exercises initiated this year by the National Weather Service on the exercise date. The first exercise will be initiated sometime between 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EDT primarily for the benefit of school participation, and the majority of the work force who are located at their place of employment at that time.

The second exercise will occur between 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EDT. This later exercise initiation time will allow families the opportunity to practice their own personal safety measures within their home.

Both exercises will be initiated by a “Test – Tornado Warning” announcement.