HOUSTON DRILL TO OCCUR: Houston will continue with its tornado drill today.
The statewide drill has been postponed today because of the threat of severe weather in northeast Missouri.
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As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 14-18, the City of Houston will participate in Missouri’s 41st annual statewide tornado drill today (Tuesday, March 15) at 1:30 p.m.
City emergency management director Jeremy St. John said the Houston’s tornado sirens will sound off at that time, and the regular monthly test scheduled for 9:30 a.m. the same day would not occur.
At 1:30 p.m. NOAA weather radios will alert listeners that the tornado drill has begun, and outdoor warning sirens will sound across Missouri. At this time, participants should practice taking cover in their designated shelter.
The Houston storm shelter is at First and Pine streets, and the Texas County Memorial Hospital shelter is on the south side of the complex.
St. John said he would like widespread participation in the city.
“In addition to our school system, I would like all our businesses to participate,” he said. “This pre-planning helps to provide a more proactive approach to saving lives if the threat of actual devastation should occur. I feel planning as a family at home is also crucial. A parent would be amazed at how much a child will retain from this.
“In my 18 years in firefighting service, I have really noticed that kids do learn and retain the safety-related information they’re taught.”
Both storm shelters are opened by Houston Police Department officers in the event of a severe weather threat. A severe weather threat is defined in Houston as “when there is immediate threat to life and property damage within the municipality of the City of Houston.”
Storm shelter requirements include:
•People who enter must stay until officials indicate it’s OK to leave.
•Everyone who enters must sign in.
•Nobody is allowed to go back to their vehicle and come back in while a threat is active.
Houston’s tornado sirens are normally tested at 9:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Conditions that could prevent testing include overcast skies, actual severe weather or the potential of actual severe weather.
During actual severe weather, the sirens could be sounded numerous times, as long as the threat continues.
“We recommend listening to a weather radio or a radio station for updates on severe weather before leaving your area of shelter,” St. John said.
The Houston storm shelter’s phone number is 417-967-0084. It is answered only when the shelter is open during a threat.
To reach St. John, call 417-260-1006.