[Press Release] : Boone County tornado drill canceled

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
Contact: Zim Schwartze, OEM Director - (573) 874-7400
 
Boone County tornado drill canceled
 
COLUMBIA, MO (March 11, 2010) - Due to the weather occurring in Boone
County at the time the statewide tornado drill was scheduled, the Office
of Emergency Management canceled the outdoor warning siren activation. 
 
“With the weather Wednesday evening to the south and east of us, and
the current conditions with gusting winds, overcast skies, and the start
of rain, I chose to not activate the outdoor warning sirens. We did not
want to alarm anyone and have citizens believe we were experiencing real
conditions,” says OEM Director Zim Schwartze. 
 
We still encourage schools, businesses, hospitals and governmental
offices to practice and conduct their drills/emergency plans with staff,
students, clients and employees. 
 
Tornado Safety
(Information from the National Weather Service, St. Louis, Missouri)We
can't stop tornadoes, but by following Tornado Safety Rules, lives can
be saved and injuries prevented. To help the public prepare for tornado
situations, the National Weather Service's (NWS) has adopted a Watch and
Warning program.
 
Tornado Watch: This means that conditions are favorable for tornado
development. This is the time to prepare. Keep alert by listing to NOAA
Weather Radio, or the commercial media for the latest weather
information.
 
Tornado Warning: This means a tornado has been sighted or the NWS is
seeing signs on radar that indicate a thunderstorm is capable of
producing a tornado at any minute. People in the path of the storm
should take immediate life saving action.
 
In homes, schools, hospitals, factories, shopping centers and other
public places: Move to designated shelter areas. If a basement is not
available, interior hallways on the lowest level of the building are
best. Stay away from windows and out of auditoriums, gymnasiums, or
structures with large free span roofs.
 
In Vehicles: Do not try to outrun a tornado. A tornado does not have to
slow down for traffic, stop signs, or curves on the road. Quickly assess
your situation. If necessary, seek shelter in a nearby substantial
building. If you have no alternative, stay in your vehicle for
protection against high winds and flying debris. Most deaths occur
because of the flying debris and head injuries. 
 
Mobile Homes: Mobile homes should be abandoned in favor of a more
substantial structure if threatened by a tornado. If severe weather is
approaching, move to a different location for a couple of hours if
necessary and wait until the storms have passed. Mobile homes are not
built to withstand the strong wind gusts that come from severe
thunderstorms or tornadoes. 
 
Tornado Myths
Myth: Areas near rivers, lakes, and mountains are safe from tornadoes.
 
Fact: No place is safe from tornadoes. They can cross rivers, travel up
mountains, and roar through valleys. The terrain changes in Missouri are
not believed to be great enough to influence tornado formation or
movement.
 
Myth: Low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to "explode" as the
tornado passes overhead.
 
Fact: It is the force of the horizontal wind and debris slamming into
buildings that causes structural damage, not the pressure change.
 
Myth: Windows should be opened before a tornado to equalize pressure
and minimize damage.
 
Fact: Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the structure.
Leave the windows alone. It is now believed that a solid structure (no
windows or doors open) has a better chance of escaping major damage.
 
- 30 -
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