Va. Tornado Preparedness Day

Gov. Tim Kaine proclaimed March 17, 2009 as Tornado Preparedness Day in Virginia. 

The day includes a statewide tornado drill, scheduled to happen at 9:45 a.m. Schools, businesses and residences will participate in the drill. Virginia public schools are required to participate in at least one tornado drill per year.

WAVY.com was at Grassfield Elementary School in Chesapeake when the school conducted its drill Tuesday morning. Students marched into hallways, then crouched on the floor.

WAVY.com wants to make sure you are prepared in the event of a tornado.

The perfect breeding ground for tornadoes is when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico/Atlantic Ocean lifts north and clashes with cool, dry air from Canada. A strong jet stream in that area can add extra fuel as well.

As we move into the warmer months, we have to start thinking about severe weather. Thunderstorms are quite common around here, but tornadoes are pretty rare in Virginia and North Carolina. Strong tornadoes are extremely rare. However, a strong EF 3 tornado hit Suffolk last April, so we know first hand that they can happen here. If you are ever in the path of a tornado, you need to know what to do to keep you safe.

First, let's discuss the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning:

A tornado WATCH means that conditions are favorable in your area for the development of a tornado.

A tornado WARNING means that a either a tornado has been spotted, or that doppler radar is showing rotation, indicating the possible development of a tornado. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, you must take action immediately!

If you are in a building when a tornado warning is issued, do not leave the building. Unless you are in a mobile home, a solidly built building is the safest place you can be. Underground shelter is best, so if you have a basement, get there quickly. If no underground shelter is available, get in an interior room such as a closet or bathroom on the lowest level of the building. It is important to stay away from windows. Get down on the floor, cover your head with your arms, and cover yourself with pillows and blankets if possible. If you have a battery operated weather radio or local radio, try to bring that in there with you. Stay put until you are sure the tornado threat is over.

Now you know how to stay safe if you are in a building....but what if a tornado warning is issued while you are driving a vehicle? Any vehicle is not a safe place to be during a tornado warning, so you should pull over immediately. Park the car off the road, and run to shelter if possible. If there are no buildings nearby, you should get away from trees, cars, or anything else that could become flying debris and lay flat on the ground in the lowest location possible, like a ditch. Lay on your stomach and cover your head with your arms. Although this is the worst case scenario, you will be safer laying flat on the ground, than you would be in a vehicle.