What are those sirens? Don’t worry, they’re for tornado drills in Missouri and Kansas
Wondering what that alarming noise is? Don’t worry, there’s no real emergency: this is how the state practices for the unlikely event of a tornado.
Every year, the National Weather Service picks a day for the whole state of Missouri to hold a tornado drill. Usually this date is in the first few weeks of March, so Tuesday’s is right on time. At 10 a.m., tornado sirens sound in communities around Missouri as well as on the radio.
Kansas will hold a drill today too, but it might be less noticeable if you’re out driving or running errands. KCTV5 reports that Kansans won’t hear the sirens over the radio, but residents of Johnson County may receive a text message alerting them of the drill.
So what should you do when the sirens sound? The National Weather Service recommends practicing what you would do in the event of a real twister heading towards your home. Best practices include heading indoors and sheltering in a sturdy, interior room like a basement or laundry room until the drill is over.
The drill is also a good opportunity to talk to your loved ones about disaster preparedness. In fact, today’s drill is just part of a week-long weather safety event: the rest of the week will consist of Lightning Safety Day, Wind/Hail Safety Day, and Flood Safety Day.
While all these severe weather events are highly unlikely, today’s drill provides Kansas and Missouri residents the chance to think about their disaster preparedness plans and feel ready if the worst ever comes to pass.
Do you have more questions about severe weather or disaster preparedness in Kansas City? The Star’s Service Journalism team is here to help. Send us your questions at kcq@kcstar.com.
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