Media invited to cover Wake County tornado drill on March 9

On a Monday morning in May 2019, staff at the Eastern Regional Center in Zebulon were working as usual when severe storms swept through the area, spawning an EF2 tornado, downing trees and knocking out power.

Staff did exactly as they were trained to do — they followed their emergency action plan and headed to the building’s designated safe areas. No one was injured.

The incident drove home the fact that severe weather can occur with little to no warning. But it also demonstrated the importance of being prepared.

March 6-12 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina, and Wake County Emergency Management officials want residents to keep in mind that as temperatures rise, so does the potential for thunderstorms and tornadoes.

“Severe weather can happen anytime throughout the year, but spring is when we have historically experienced damaging storms,” said Sig Hutchinson, chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners. “The best time to plan for any disaster is before it strikes, so we encourage all residents to take some time to make a plan with your family in the event that an unexpected situation happens.”

“How do you escape a burning house, or where’s the safest place in your house when a tornado is coming? Who would you call in an emergency when you can’t reach mom and dad, and where do you meet your family if the power and cell phones go out? These are all important questions to discuss, as a little planning in advance can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe.”

As part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, a statewide tornado drill will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 9. The National Weather Service will broadcast the drill over NOAA weather radio stations and the Emergency Alert System. Wake County Government is encouraging employees and residents to participate.

Media Availability
Media are invited to join Wake County Emergency Management and Wake County Health and Human Services staff for the drill at the Eastern Regional Center, the site of the 2019 tornado.

Reporters are asked to arrive and set up by 9:15 a.m., and the drill will take place at 9:30 a.m. The Eastern Regional Center is located at 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon. Parking will be available in the main lot.

Following the drill, interview opportunities will be available with the following:

• Darryl Blevins, Eastern Regional Center director, Wake County Health and Human Services, who experienced the 2019 tornado
• Darshan Patel, team leader, Wake County Emergency Management
• Keith Acree, public information officer, North Carolina Emergency Management
• Nick Petro, weather coordination meteorologist, National Weather Service – Raleigh

A reminder email will be sent on Tuesday, March 8. Please RSVP to Leah Holdren at leah.holdren@wake.gov or 919-623-4763.

Staying Safe
In 2021, the National Weather Service issued 194 tornado warnings for North Carolina and recorded 21 tornadoes. There were 189 flash flood warnings issued and 109 actual flood incidents. In addition, the NWS issued 1,114 severe thunderstorm warnings and recorded 344 incidents of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and 101 damaging hail events. Statewide, damages totaled more than $219 million.

Wake County Emergency Management officials recommend residents use the following safety tips:

• Sign up for ReadyWake alerts. You can choose to receive notifications about local emergencies via phone, text or email.
   
• Have a family emergency plan in place so all members know where to go, who to call and what to do during a disaster.
   
• Know the terms: “watch” means a tornado is possible. “Warning” means a tornado has been spotted — take shelter immediately.
   
• Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room away from windows, and go there immediately if you hear or see a tornado.
   
• If driving, you should leave your vehicle immediately to seek safety in an adequate structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle, and do not stop under an overpass or a bridge.
   
• If you are outdoors and there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area. Watch out for flying debris.
   
• Following a storm, wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves and gloves when walking on or near debris, and be aware of exposed nails and broken glass.
• Be aware of damaged power or gas lines and electrical systems that may cause fires, electrocution or explosions.

More information on tornados and emergency preparedness can be found at www.readync.org.