COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) -
You may have heard the outdoor warning sirens sound Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service held a statewide tornado safety drill at 9:00am as part of Georgia's Severe Weather Awareness Week.
School children emptied into the hallways to practice what to do in the event of a real weather emergency – information that will help them anywhere and not just at school.
The state asks that families take advantage of this time to make a plan on how to respond to severe weather.
For additional information about Severe Weather Awareness Week, visit Ready Georgia's interactive website, www.ready.ga.gov.
GEMA offers this information from its Ready Georgia campaign:
Prepare for Severe Weather
Make your own Ready kit of emergency supplies. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life.
- Water: at least three gallons per person per day for drinking and sanitation
- Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Manual can opener if kit contains canned food
- Battery-powered or hand crank NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Face mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Local maps
- Specific items for children, family members' special needs or pets
- Cash or travelers checks
- Important documents in a waterproof container
- Blankets and warm clothes
Plan for Severe Weather
- Be sure every family member knows important phone numbers for schools, offices, home and emergency services.
- Identify an out-of town contact. It might be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call in town, so an out-of-town contact is in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
- Identify a meeting place near your home where family members can meet if separated during severe weather.
- Identify a meeting place away from your home where family members can meet if your neighborhood in not accessible.
- Map out evacuation routes in case you are ordered to evacuate, and always keep at least half a tank of gas in your car.
- Know your insurance policies and visit www.floodsmart.gov to learn whether your home is in a flood zone.
Stay Informed about Severe Weather
- Find out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond.
- Learn your community's warning signals and evacuation plans.
- Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify severe weather, such as advisories, watches and warnings.
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School children emptied into the hallways to practice what to do in the event of a real weather emergency.
The National Weather Service held a statewide tornado safety drill at 9:00am as part of Georgia's Severe Weather Awareness Week.
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