Statewide tornado drill: Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Marking Severe Weather Preparedness Week

[February 26, 2011]  Tuesday at 10 a.m., the National Weather Service will issue a TEST tornado warning for ALL counties in Illinois. This annual, statewide tornado drill is done in conjunction with Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois, Feb. 27-March 5. This is the same time that most communities test their outdoor warning sirens.

This is also a good time for schools, businesses and other gathering places to practice their tornado sheltering drills.

The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, and Illinois ranks fifth in the country for the most tornadoes per 1,000 square miles.

There is nothing we can do to stop tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and floods from occurring, but we can prepare.

• Severe weather fact sheet

• Flood safety

• Severe thunderstorm safety

• Tornado safety

[Text from announcement received from National Weather Service, Lincoln office]