Sioux Falls Annual Tornado Drill Scheduled For This Week
Our area has gorgeous weather and then not-so-beautiful weather, at times. And that is what Severe Weather Awareness Week (April 7-11) is all about - the not-so-good weather.
The annual community tornado drill will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 10:15 A.M. in Sioux Falls.
Schools, businesses, and all residents are encouraged to practice their severe-weather plans when the sirens go off.
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“Preparation and practice are incredibly important as we enter another severe weather season. We encourage everyone, and especially those who are responsible for the most vulnerable in our community, to understand what their plans are and know how to apply them.” - -Regan Smith/Sioux Falls Emergency Manager
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are sent to cell phones in the area when a tornado warning or destructive thunderstorm warning is issued, but they will not be issued with this drill. WEAs are also not issued for weather watches.
You can find out more about weather watches and warnings at the National Weather Service's website.
The outdoor warning system is designed primarily for people who are outdoors, away from radio, television, or even their phones. They are not intended to be heard indoors.
Emergency management members also suggest getting a programmable National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio. Please keep it in your bedroom with a tone alert. If power and telecommunications functions are lost, these can be invaluable.
When you hear a Wireless Emergency Alert on your phone or hear an outdoor siren, the number one thing to do is find an indoor shelter and stay there until the threat is over.
The Sioux Falls Emergency Management Team has these additional suggestions:
In homes:
- Go to the basement or small interior room or a hallway on the lowest level possible.
- Get under something sturdy, such as a staircase.
- Stay away from windows. Do not open the windows.
In mobile homes:
- Leave a mobile home immediately and go to a substantial shelter.
- Know how long it takes to reach your designated shelter and be ready to get there before a warning is issued or the sirens sound. Tornadoes can occur with little advance warning.
In schools, malls, or other public buildings:
- Go to a pre-designated shelter. Interior hallways or bathrooms are best.
- Stay away from large windows and glassed areas.
- Avoid large rooms such as gyms and dining hall areas.
In vehicles:
- Vehicles are not safe during a tornado.
- Your best course of action is to seek shelter in a sturdy nearby building.
- If a building is not available, you can abandon your vehicle and lie flat in a low-lying area/ditch with your hands covering your head or remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and head down. Neither option is safe and should only be used as a last resort.
Outdoors:
- Go inside a building if possible. The same rules apply as with the vehicle section above. Wherever you choose to shelter, your main priority is to protect yourself from flying and falling debris.
For more information on the Sioux Falls Emergency Team, visit their website.
Sources: City of Sioux Falls and National Weather Service
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