Full Notification

March 4 through 10 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois

Severe weather in the form of tornadoes, lightning, flash foods, damaging winds, and destructive hail strike Illinois each spring, summer and fall, sometimes with incredible violence.
2011 was a devastating year for tornadoes in the United States. There were more than 1700 tornadoes nationwide, including 59 killer tornadoes which claimed 550 lives. It was the deadliest year for tornadoes since 1925. The 2012 tornado season got off to a fast and early start with a rash of tornadoes in the overnight and morning hours of February 28 and 29 from Kansas and southern Missouri, eastward into southern Indiana, southern Illinois and Kentucky. An EF4 tornado struck the town of Harrisburg, Illinois in the predawn hours, killing 6 and injuring around 100. An even deadlier tornado outbreak was seen across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys on Friday, March 2, with over two dozen fatalities.

The National Weather Service and Kane County Office of Emergency Management urges you to develop a safety plan for use at your home, workplace, school, vehicle, and for outdoor activities. Be aware of severe weather safety rules. Planning ahead and knowing what to do might save your life. For more information visit the Illinois Emergency Management Agency web site at http://ready.illinois.gov/.

Statewide Tornado Drill Tuesday March 6

Tuesday March 6 at 1000 AM CST a test tornado warning will be issued for all Illinois counties. Many locations in Illinois will also test sirens on Tuesday morning.
The test warnings will be disseminated through NOAA Weather Radio with the tone alarm and SAME codes. Many commercial radio and TV stations will participate by passing along the test tornado warning. The test will be postponed to Wednesday March 7 if severe weather threatens.
This would be a good time to review your severe weather procedures.

Tornado Watches and Warnings

Tornadoes are the most destructive storms that occur in Illinois. Being prepared for a tornado can save your life.
A tornado watch means severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in your area over the next few hours. Be prepared.

A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted by a trained storm spotter, or intense rotation that will likely produce a tornado has been detected by Doppler radar. Get to a place of safety immediately.



Tornado Safety

When a tornado threatens, you may only have seconds to save yourself and your family. Have a preparedness plan for your home, school, and workplace. Know where to find the best tornado shelter.
• In a home, go to the basement and get under the stairwell, or under a heavy piece of furniture. If there is no basement, go to an interior closet, hall or bathroom on the lowest floor and stay away from windows. Cover your head with pillows or sofa cushions.
• In schools, hospitals, churches and office buildings, go to small interior rooms or interior halls on the lowest floor. Long corridors with doors or windows on the end can act as wind tunnels. Stay away from windows. Avoid large open areas with free span roofs such as gymnasiums and cafeteria.
• In steel and concrete high rise buildings, it is not necessary to get to the lowest floor, but go to interior halls, bathrooms or closets. Stay away from windows.
• In shopping centers, avoid large open areas and glass. Seek shelter in bathrooms, small interior spaces and behind counters. Do not attempt to escape in your vehicle.
• Abandon mobile homes and vehicles for a nearby reinforced building. As a last resort lie flat in a ditch. Do not seek shelter under an overpass.