March 1-7 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Ohio. Athens County Emergency Management Agency urges you to exercise your tornado safety plan during the Statewide Tornado Drill at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday, March 4th. Designing and exercising a tornado safety plan for your establishment and home will help you respond appropriately in a real event.

Here’s how to participate in the 2015 Tornado Drill:

• Listen for the outdoor sirens or other warning system at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4th.
• Practice your safety plan — go to your designated tornado shelter.

Get Informed

• Get a weather alert radio. They’re available from most electronics retailers. To learn more, go to
• http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/.
• Learn about the hazards we face in Athens County at our Web site: http://www.athensema.org

Make a Plan

•  Know a safe place to shelter during tornadoes at work, home and school.

• Keep extra emergency supplies on hand (battery-operated radio, food, water, medication).
• Go online to Ready.Gov to learn how to make an emergency plan.

Get Involved

•  Exercise your tornado plan on Wednesday, March 4th at 9:50 a.m. during the statewide drill.

• If you can’t drill on March 4th, choose another date in March or April.