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Virginia's annual tornado drill takes over the Emergency Alert System

Officials are urging residents to use the drill as an opportunity to test their tornado emergency procedures, discuss preparedness efforts and know where to seek safe shelter when a tornado warning is issued.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — On Tuesday morning at 9:45, all across the Commonwealth people took part in an annual tornado drill to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a real emergency.

Erin Sutton, the Director for the Office of Emergency Management in Virginia Beach, said most people think tornadoes stay in certain regions, but in 2004 there were 86 recorded tornadoes, in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

More recently in 2018, 31 confirmed tornadoes touched down in Virginia from January through November. So it’s important for everyone to participate in the annual tornado drill.

"Hurricanes, you’ve got days to watch," said Sutton. "Tornadoes, you’ve got minutes.”

During a tornado, you should try to find a sturdy building or at least a room on the ground floor, away from any doors or windows to duck and cover.

“Thinking about in your home: where is a safe interior room? Think about it now before the storm, not try to scramble and figure out. Is it the closet? Is it the guest bathroom? What is it?” said Sutton.

It’s all about having a plan. Eighty-six schools in Virginia Beach participate in the drill every year. Businesses and higher education schools across Hampton Roads practice too.

“It should be important to the faculty, to the staff and everybody,” said Old Dominion University Police Lieutenant Scott Evans.

He said people from all over the world attend this university. Therefore, some students may not have had a chance to do this before.

“This is a great opportunity for them to learn and be prepared, should a tornado hit,” said Evans.

It may seem overly cautious but having a plan could save your life if a tornado hits.

“It’s really important to think about your plan now, today,” said Sutton.

If you didn’t get a tornado drill notification on your phone, don’t worry. The state Emergency Alert System doesn’t control that. Localities have their own alert systems, such as Virginia Beach's VBAlert.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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