If wailing sirens fill the air Tuesday, don't panic. Callaway County will be participating in a statewide tornado drill as a part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week.
The test, an opportunity for Missourians to practice shelter plans, will begin at 10 a.m. Outdoor warning sirens and weather alert radios will sound.
The annual drill typically takes place in early March.
The National Weather Service hopes to remind communities that dangerous weather could be on the horizon. Though severe weather can strike at any time of the year, tornadoes and other storms are common in Missouri in the spring and summer.
In May 2011, Joplin was devastated by a multiple-vortex tornado that left 158 dead and 1,150 injured. Many homes and businesses were damaged in 2019 when a tornado hit Jefferson City.
"As the 10-year anniversary of the May 22, 2011, Joplin tornado approaches and we reflect upon more than 160 lives lost, and the years of recovery efforts, we're reminded of the tremendous importance of preparing for severe weather no matter where we are," State Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Remillard said in a news release.
The drill will only take place if the weather Tuesday is fair, NWS meteorologist Kevin Deitsch said. If severe weather is in the forecast, the drill will be moved to 10 a.m. Thursday.
"The more you do something, you get to where you don't have to think about it," Callaway Emergency Management Director Michelle Kidwell said. "It gets to be like second-nature."
Because outdoor warning sirens aren't audible everywhere in the county or indoors, Kidwell recommended people sign up for severe weather alerts.
The emergency management agency has several outdoor sirens, including in Holts Summit, Kingdom City and Auxvasse. Westminster College and Ameren Missouri also have sirens covering parts of Fulton.
Thanks to a recent grant, a siren will be installed in New Bloomfield this spring, Kidwell said.
At smart911.com, people can sign up for weather and emergency alerts in their area.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, participants are encouraged to practice taking cover in a designated shelter.
When weather conditions favor thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, a tornado watch is issued. When someone hears of a tornado watch, they should review emergency plans and check supplies. Tornado watches typically cover large areas.
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or indicated on radar. At this point, there is imminent danger to life and property and individuals should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
Large rooms such as cafeterias or gymnasiums are not as safe because the roof could collapse. Overpasses are also dangerous and could cause a wind tunnel effect.
Those outside or in a mobile home or vehicle should move to the closest substantial shelter. If driving and not near a building, stay in the car and cover your head or seek shelter in a low lying area like a ditch or ravine.
More information about weather safety is available at weather.gov/lsx/severeweek.