Columbus and Lowndes County will participate in the annual statewide tornado drill Wednesday at 9:15 a.m.,, weather permitting.
The drill is conducted by the National Weather Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios, tornado sirens and weather alert receivers will be activated.
“Some models of the NOAA weather radio will not give an audible alert, so you should be prepared to conduct your drills without the audible alarm,” Cindy Lawrence, director of the Columbus-Lowndes Emergency Management Agency, noted, in a press release.
Lawrence is encouraging all local schools, day cares, nursing homes, hospitals, government agencies and businesses to participate in the drill to test their emergency preparedness plan.
“That plan should include a designated room in a house or business to seek shelter in, an emergency kit including a three-day supply of food and water and a weather radio,” Lawrence added, noting the drill will be postponed if there is threatening weather.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.