The annual statewide tornado drill, originally set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, is now rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6. This tornado drill will be observed by the City of Joplin by sounding the warning sirens for a full three minutes, the same amount that would occur in an actual warning.
In addition, the City of Joplin will also test its text notification system that is part of the City’s website. For those who have signed up for this notification, you should receive a text regarding this drill. If you have not signed up yet for this mobile application, please visit the City’s website at www.joplinmo.org and go to the Notify Me section to complete the information requested. This notification system is directly through the Joplin/Jasper County Emergency Management Agency.
While visiting the Notify Me section of the website, City officials also encourage visitors to sign up for other notifications that are sent via email and/or text. These include postings related to upcoming events, programs, service
In addition to the City’s procedures during the drill, the National Weather Service and the State Emergency Management Agency will be conducting their tests using various news mediums and alert systems. . The NWS will kick off the drill with a Tornado Warning which is plainly marked as a test. This test will cause NOAA Weather Radios to activate.
As this drill kicks off the 2014 Severe Weather Awareness Week, observed from March 3-7, Keith Stammer, Emergency Management Director, encourages everyone to be proactive and prepare for weather safety. Preparing today may make the difference in surviving the storms to come this spring. He also encourages people to seek appropriate notification system and reminds the public about the warning sirens’ purpose.
“The sirens provide a warning for anyone who is out of doors to go indoors, if possible, and take shelter,” he said. “People indoors cannot always expect to hear the outdoor warning sirens.”
Stammer will join Fire Chief Mitch Randles in making a presentation to the City Council at its Monday, March 3 meeting. The presentation, focusing on the City’s policies related to storm warning procedures, will be at the top of the meeting that begins at 6 p.m. Residents are welcome to attend the meeting or can watch the presentation on KGCS-TV.
Stammer will join Fire Chief Mitch Randles in making a presentation to the City Council at its Monday, March 3 meeting. The presentation, focusing on the City’s policies related to storm warning procedures, will be at the top of the meeting that begins at 6 p.m. Residents are welcome to attend the meeting or can watch the presentation on KGCS-TV.
Stammer encourages residents to utilize a NOAA Weather Radio that provides a warning signal when the area is under a watch or a warning. “The advantage of having a weather radio is that you hear the alerts directly from the National Weather Service, and are kept current of the warning status.” Weather radios are available at local retailers and are priced at approximately $30.
For severe weather tips, including information on NOAA Weather Radio, please visit http://www.crh.noaa.gov/sgf/?n=severeweatherawareness. For information on Joplin’s siren activation policy, please visit http://www.joplinmo.org/index.aspx?nid=589.
For further information on the tornado drill, contact Stammer at 417-624-0820, ext. 260.
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