LEE’S SUMMIT, MO–Severe Weather Awareness Week is set for March 7^th through March 11^th.  This campaign is designed to increase public awareness about flooding, severe weather and tornadoes.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department in conjunction with the State Emergency Management Agency and National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill will conduct a statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 1:30 P.M.  The Lee’s Summit Fire Department will activate the outdoor storm warning sirens and announce the exercise over the Emergency Broadcast Radio System and Cable Television Interrupt System. The National Weather Service will also activate the NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). In the event of severe weather conditions on the day of the exercise, the drill will be postponed to Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 1:30 P.M.

All schools, private businesses and residents are encouraged to participate in the exercise by practicing their tornado and shelter procedures. The safest shelter location is an interior room without windows in the lowest level of the building. Other school or business safe locations are basements, hallways, under staircases and designated tornado safe rooms. Once everyone is accounted for, the drill is over.

Remember:

• • A Tornado Watch means watch the sky. Conditions are favorable for tornado development.
  • A Tornado Warning means seek shelter immediately. A tornado has been spotted, or indicated by radar.
  • IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS: Go to the basement (if available) or to an interior room on the lowest floor, such as a closet or bathroom. Upper floors are unsafe. If there is no time to descend, go to a closet, a small room with strong walls, or an inside hallway. Wrap yourself in overcoats or blankets to protect yourself from flying debris.
  • IN SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, FACTORIES, OR SHOPPING CENTERS: Go to interior rooms and halls on the lowest floor. Stay away from glass enclosed places or areas with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums and warehouses. Crouch down and cover your head.. Centrally-located stairwells are good shelter.
  • IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS: Go to interior small rooms or halls. Stay away from exterior walls or glassy areas.
  • IN MOBILE HOMES: ABANDON THEM IMMEDIATELY!  Most deaths occur in cars and mobile homes. If you are in either of those locations, leave them and go to a substantial structure or designated tornado shelter.
  • IN VEHICLES:  IF POSSIBLE, DRIVE AWAY! If not, get into a sturdy shelter (building).  As a last resort, you need to make a personal decision whether to ride it out in your car hunched down below the windows with your SEATBELT ON, or to lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression with your hands covering your head.
  • IF NO SUITABLE STRUCTURE IS NEARBY: Lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression and use your hands to cover your head. Be alert for flash floods.
  • DURING A TORNADO: Absolutely avoid buildings with large free-span roofs. Stay away from west and south walls.  Remember, seek shelter on the    lowest level, go to the smallest room, and center part of the building.
  • Do not underestimate flood waters.  Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Go another way.  NEVER drive through flooded roads or low water crossings.

Additional information and resource material are available on the internet at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eaxn=severewx-awareness, or contact the Lee’s Summit Fire Department at (816) 969-1300.

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