The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service have declared the week of April 2nd through April 6th,  2012 Severe Weather Awareness Week.   Severe Weather Awareness Week is an annual event to remind Iowans that severe weather is part of living in our state and that understanding the risks and how to respond to them can save lives.

During Severe Weather Awareness Week, the National Weather Service will promote severe weather safety by issuing informative Public Information Statements.  

National Weather Service and Iowa Security and Emergency Management discuss severe weather safety issues on five podcasts.  Each podcast is a discussion about the “topic of the day” during Severe Weather Awareness Week.  Media may download and play all, or parts, of the podcasts on air.   The podcasts will be ready in mid March.

The highlight of the week will be the tornado drill on Wednesday, April 4 2012.  

Tornado Test Details — April 4th, 2012

The FCC prohibits the use of live Emergency  Alert System (EAS) warning codes for test messages.  A waiver has been granted by the FCC which has authorized the use of real TOR EAS/NOAA Weather Radio codes for the test.  We thank the Iowa EAS Chairmen for requesting the waiver for the test. 

 

9:50 AM – Storm Prediction Center (SPC) coordinates with Iowa National Weather Service (NWS)  offices about a test tornado watch for Iowa.

10:00 AM – SPC issues Test Tornado Watch for Iowa.  Each Iowa WFO will issue test Watch Coordination Notification messages.  Test watch will be toned and alerted on NOAA All Hazards Radio and sent through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) if the waiver is approved.

10:10 AM – NWS Sioux Fallstest tornado warnings for their Iowa counties.

10:15 AM– NWS Des Moines and Quad Cities issue test tornado warnings for their Iowa counties.

10:20 AM – NWS La Crosse issues test tornado warning for their Iowa counties.

10:30-10:35 AM – All Iowa NWS offices issues a Severe Weather Statement to terminate the test warnings.

11:00 AM – Test tornado watch expires.

WFO Omaha will NOT be participating in the drill. 

If severe weather threatens on Wednesday – April 4th, the test will be conducted on Thursday – April 5th at the same time. 

    Severe Weather Awareness Week Daily Topics

Monday – The focus on Monday will be flash flooding.  Flash flooding is the most deadly thunderstorm threat in the United States.  Never drive into a flooded area!  Additional information – Flash Flood Pamphlet (PDF) Tuesday – On Tuesday we will discuss warning reception.  Over the years, the ways to get hazardous weather warnings have changed.  Today, we will focus on how to get a warning.  Do you know how you get a warning?  Additional information – Warning Reception Pamphlet (PDF) Wednesday – Today is tornado day.  In 2011, over 500 people died in the United States from tornadoes!   Do you know where the safest place is in your home or car? Additional information – Tornado Safety Pamphlet (PDF) Thursday – This is severe thunderstorm day.  Hundreds of severe thunderstorms hit Iowa each year.  Did you know severe thunderstorms can be as dangerous as tornadoes? Additional information – Severe Thunderstorm Pamphlet (PDF) Friday – Family Preparedness. Learn about family safety from natural and man made hazards. Additional information – Family Preparedness Pamphlet (PDF)

New in 2012!  The National Weather Service in Des Moines has updated the preparedness pages on our website.  Check them out! click here

For additional severe weather safety information, including podcasts of emergency management and National Weather Service staff discussing severe weather hazards, visit  the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Be Ready Iowa! website, please click here.

For severe weather safety and preparedness information in Spanish, please click here (en Español).

Media interviews concerning severe weather week are encouraged and should be directed to Jeff Johnson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Des Moines, IA.