Statewide tornado drill preps schools, businesses for severe weather

Many schools and businesses around the state took part in a statewide tornado drill to practice what they would do in a real situation as part of the National Weather Service's Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The week runs from March 4-10.

Last year, there were 85 tornado warnings in North Carolina, and 30 twisters actually touched down. The National Weather Service says March is one of the deadliest months for tornadoes in the Tar Heel State.

The NWS said people should have a severe weather safety plan for if a tornado is in the area. People can put their plans into practice by:

– Seeking shelter for a few minutes as if a tornado was headed your way. Students in classrooms, for example, should head out into the halls and crouch down

– People at home should head to the basement or an interior room with no windows

There's no length of time a school or business needs to practice. Once participants feel confident, they can go back to whatever they were doing, the NWS said.

The NWS also recommends having a way to get notifications about severe weather in the area, like cell phone apps, weather radios and local news.