UNDATED (WTAQ) – For the first time ever, Wisconsin will perform 2 mock tornado drills Thursday as part of Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Wisconsin Emergency Management, the National Weather Service and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association are teaming up to sponsor the statewide drill.
A mock tornado watch will be issued at 1 p.m., and a mock tornado warning will be issued at 1:45 p.m. Many radio and TV stations statewide will issue the test tornado warnings. In addition, mock alerts will be issued on NOAA Weather Radios and many communities will sound their tornado sirens.
New this year will be a mock tornado warning issued at 6:55 p.m. to give families and businesses a chance to test their emergency severe weather plans.
“I think this will be a great reminder for folks to just take 10 minutes of time to sit around the kitchen table and talk to your family about how you’re going to be ready for tornado season,” says Tod Pritchard with Wisconsin Emergency Management. “Where are we going to go when the storm hits, what’s the safest place in our home, do we have some supplies to take care of ourselves in case we may be held up in our homes for a while.”
According to the ReadyWisconsin website, the basics of tornado safety are 3 words: Listen, Act and Live.
- In a home or building, avoid windows. Move to a basement, and get under a sturdy table or the stairs. If a basement is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and cover yourself with towels, blankets or pillows. If possible, get under a sturdy table, desk or counter. Put as many walls as possible between you and the storm. Wearing a bike helmet will help protect your head.
- If outdoors, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you cannot get to shelter, stay in your vehicle with the seatbelt on and place your head below the windows. Do not seek shelter under an overpass.
- Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the designated storm shelter or the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building.
- At school, go to the interior hall or room. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.
Here are some essentials for an emergency kit:
Start out thinking about the basics of survival – fresh water, food, safety, warmth, sanitation and clean air.
For Everyone
- Water (1 gallon per person per day for 3 days)
- Food that does not need electricity for storage or preparation
- Manual can opener (if kit contains canned food)
- Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and a commercial radio or hand crank radio
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- First aid kit and emergency medical reference manual
- Prescription medications and eyewear
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels, moist towelettes, garbage bags and ties
- Complete change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and sturdy shoes
For Baby
- Formula
- Bottled water to mix with formula and to wash bottles
- Bottles
- Blankets (both emergency blankets and receiving blankets)
- Diapers – keep the diaper size current
- Disposable wipes
- Copy of a current shot record
- Bath towels and wash cloths
- Burp cloths, bibs
- Cotton swabs
- Medications
- Diaper rash ointment
- Binkies and toys
- Cotton swabs
- Medications
- Diaper rash ointment
For Pets
- Identification tags on collars
- Medications, immunization records
- Food, drinking water, bowls, cat litter/pan and can opener
- Sturdy leashes or carriers to transport pets safely (Carriers should be large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down)
- Towels or blankets
- Current photos of you with your pets
- Feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian
- Pet beds and toys
Additional Items
- Cash in small denominations or traveler’s checks and change
- Copies of important family documents, such as insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper (When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach it can be used to disinfect)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air) and plastic sheeting/duct tape (to shelter where you are)
- Local maps
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
- Paper and pencil
- Fire Extinguisher
- Whistle to signal for help
