COLUMBIA, MO (March 3, 2011) -

Although the ‘Blizzard of 2011’ is still fresh in everyone’s mind, the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is looking ahead to spring and the weather possibilities the new season will bring.  Your local OEM, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) will observe “Severe Weather Awareness Week” from March 7 – 11, 2011.  The week is designed to help individuals, businesses, schools, governmental entities and families develop and review their plans in the event of severe weather.

“With warmer weather and spring come the inevitable thunderstorms,” says OEM Director Zim Schwartze.  “Thunderstorms can spawn high winds, lightning, flooding triggered by heavy rainfall, hail, and tornadoes.  It’s important to be ready for everything that thunderstorms could throw at us. As with any kind of disaster threat, preparedness is the key.  Knowing what to do or where to go when severe weather threatens can be the difference between life and death.”

Since 2004, 448 tornadoes have been reported in Missouri.  Those tornadoes have killed 51 people, injured 572 and left millions of dollars in damage. 

The highlight of Severe Weather Awareness Week will be a statewide tornado drill planned for Tuesday, March 8th, at 1:30 p.m.  At that time, the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management will activate the outdoor warning sirens across the county, schools will conduct drills with staff and students, and businesses will practice their emergency plans.  Please note that this is not the regularly scheduled monthly activation of the sirens as that occurs the first Wednesday of every month, weather permitting. In the event of severe
weather occurring on March 8th, the statewide tornado drill will be postponed until Thursday, March 10th, at 1:30 p.m.