Statewide Tornado Drill in Virginia Set for Later This Month

A statewide test of Virginia's tornado warning systems will be conducted later this month.

The state Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service say the tornado drill is set for March 22.

Officials say the severe storm system that spawned eight tornadoes and caused five deaths last month in Virginia illustrates the importance of being prepared.

The drill will start with a test tornado warning sent by the weather service to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radios. That system will sound a tone alert and show a test message to simulate what people would hear or see during an actual tornado warning. Local radio stations, TV stations and cable outlets will broadcast the test message via the Emergency Alert System.