SAN ANGELO, Texas — The National Weather Service (NWS) will issue an areawide tornado drill for West Texas Wednesday, Mar. 31 at 10 a.m. The NWS will issue the alert through a NOAA weather radio using the weekly test code.
The City of Abilene will issue the alert through CodeRED, the free telephone emergency system.
Residents, businesses, schools and assisted living or nursing homes throughout West Texas are urged to review tornado preparedness plans now or create one if there is not one in place and participate in the drill.
The drill is designed to bring attention to threats of weather hazards and reduce the loss of life, injury, and property in case of severe weather.
The recommendation is that everyone has multiple ways of receiving weather warnings. People can receive warnings through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All-Hazards Radio, public radio and television, as well as CodeRED® notification.
The drill can help people make sure the NOAA All-Hazards Radio is correctly programmed to receive National Weather Service warnings.
In the Big Country, sign up for CodeRED Weather Warning visit, abilenetx.gov or text ABITAYTX to 99411.
The Mar. 31 drill will satisfy Abilene's CMS requirement for a citywide exercise. To request documentation email emergmgt@abilenetx.gov.
For additional emergency management resources visit the City of Abilene Office of Emergency Management website.