Statewide tornado drill set Tuesday

Holts Summit Police Chief Kyle McIntyre said the public should be aware that the storm shelter located next to the Holts Summit City Hall is opened to anyone in the area - not just residents - every time a tornado warning is issued for the region.
Holts Summit Police Chief Kyle McIntyre said the public should be aware that the storm shelter located next to the Holts Summit City Hall is opened to anyone in the area - not just residents - every time a tornado warning is issued for the region.

Warning sirens in Central Missouri will sound at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as part of a statewide tornado drill during Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week, which is March 12-16.

If there is a threat of severe weather in any part of Missouri on Tuesday, the statewide drill will be postponed until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

"Severe weather can strike at any time, making it crucial for Missourians to be aware of their sheltering options in various locations," said State Emergency Management Agency Director Paul D. Parmenter.

Severe weather already has hit the Midwest this year.

Holts Summit Police Chief Kyle McIntyre said the public should be aware that the storm shelter located next to the Holts Summit City Hall is opened every time a tornado warning is issued for the region.

The shelter at 245 South Summit Dr. is available to anyone in the Holts Summit area, not just residents of the city of Holts Summit, said Holts Summit Police Officer Marc Haycook.

"Because of our proximity to the Capital," Haycook said, "thousands of vehicles travel up and down U.S. 54 each day. Anyone traveling through the Holts Summit area who wants to seek shelter from a storm during a tornado warning is welcome at the shelter."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.