Today, emergency management agencies, government offices, schools and businesses are encouraged to join us in participating in the statewide tornado drill.

At 10am the National Weather Service will issue a test tornado watch.  At that time the Raccoon Valley Radio Severe Weather Action Team will take the airwaves, just as we would if a warning was issued for Dallas, Greene or Guthrie Counties.  We will tell you about our award winning weather coverage and give you a preview on the types of things you will hear when severe weather hits our local area.

Dallas County Emergency Management Coordinator Barry Halling says it’s important for everyone to know their plans for when disaster strikes.

“This is the time for cities, communities, schools, to practice and go through their tornado procedures.  It makes it a little more realistic when the sirens are going off and you’re doing the drill at the same time.  So I encourage everyone to run through the drill.  Sometimes it’s kind of a pain, sometimes people think ‘Oh, you’re inconveniencing me, I know what I’m going to do.’ But when the sky is dark and the sirens are going off, you may think differently and now is the time to practice this.”

Sirens in all of our area communities will be tested at 10:20am and the test tornado watch will expire at 11am.