2011 Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week
Governor Walker has proclaimed April 11-15, 2011 as Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. On April 14, 2011, a statewide tornado drill is planned. The National Weather Service will issue mock tornado watches and warnings. If actual severe weather occurs anywhere in the state on April 14, the tornado drill will be postponed until Friday, April 15 with the watch/warnings issued at the same time. Below are the scheduled times for the mock watches/warnings.
1:00 pm - Mock
tornado watch for all of Wisconsin
1:10-1:15 pm -
National Weather Service Green Bay issues mock tornado warning for Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood Counties.
1:20-1:25 pm -
National Weather Service Milwaukee issues mock tornado warning for Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan,
Walworth, Washington and Waukesha Counties.
1:30-1:35 pm -
National Weather Service La Crosse issues mock tornado warning for Adams, Buffalo, Clark, Crawford, Grant, Jackson, Juneau, LaCrosse, Monroe, Richland, Taylor, Trempealeau and Vernon Counties.
1:40-1:45 pm -
National Weather Service Minneapolis/Chanhassen issues mock tornado warning for Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk and St. Croix Counties.
1:50-1:55 pm -
National Weather Service Duluth issues mock tornado warning for Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Washburn Counties.
2:00 pm -
END OF MOCK TORNADO WATCH/WARNING DRILL
A MESSAGE FROM WALWORTH COUNTY SHERIFF, DAVID A. GRAVES:
Sheriff David A. Graves wants to remind residents that the Walworth County Sheriffs Office will be testing the Severe Storm Alerting System in preparation for the upcoming Spring and Summer weather season.
The National Weather Service on Thursday, April 14, 2011 will issue a mock tornado watch at 1pm and a warning at 1:20pm for Walworth County. Citizens who have weather alert radios will be able to confirm that their radio is working properly. Many Walworth County residents are not in range of a storm siren and the weather alert radio is the best choice for these people. Newer style weather alert radios allow the customer to place in the codes of the Counties that they want to hear alerts for. This helps minimize false alarms. People living in range of a storm siren are still strongly encouraged to have a weather alert radio in their homes to ensure their safety.
Sheriff Graves encourages all parents to take a few moments to discuss severe weather with their children. Have a plan BEFORE severe weather strikes in your area.
Do you have a safe place you can go if severe weather strikes your community? Do you have fresh batteries for your weather alert radio? A working flashlight? A small first aid kit? Remember, be prepared and be safe!