Tornado Safety

STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL

The Statewide Tornado Drill is a yearly opportunity to prepare Virginians for tornado emergencies and to test public warning systems.

Save the date! The Virginia State Emergency Communications Committee and the National Weather Service will conduct a statewide tornado drill and Emergency Alert System (EAS) test on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at 9:45am or on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 9:45am as the backup date if severe weather impacts the Commonwealth of Virginia on March 19.

At approximately 9:45am, the National Weather Service will send a test tornado warning over NOAA Weather Radios. This test signal will sound a tone alert, show a test message or flash to indicate a message, simulating what people would hear or see during an actual tornado warning. Local radio stations, TV stations and cable outlets will also broadcast the test message via the Emergency Alert System. Automated alerts are anticipated to be out through the CivicReady system for those receiving severe weather notifications. 

For more information on the Statewide Tornado Drill and how to prepare, please visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Tornado Drill website or contact the Danville Fire Department at 434-799-5226. 

Tornado Preparedness & Safety

Tornadoes can strike Danville at any time, and citizens need to be ready. Environmental clues that indicate an approaching tornado include:

  • Dark, often greenish sky
  • Large hail
  • Loud roar similar to a freight train

The general rule for tornado safety is go low and stay low - go to the lowest level of a building or structure away from windows and crouch in a low position with your head covered.

Tornado Plans for Your Home or Business

Develop a safety plan for your home, work, school, and when you're outdoors. Make sure you practice the plan. Review the plan on days when severe weather is forecast for your area. Learn more about tornado plans from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM).

Members of the Emergency Management Office are available to help you put together a plan for your family or employees. To arrange a visit to your school, business, church, or industry, call the Education and Public Information staff at 434-799-6535.

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