Local blogger, Eliza reminded me that this week is Severe Weather Awareness week.

Today at 1:30 p.m. you might hear a bunch of noise, it’ll be the local tornado drill. No, we aren’t actually having a tornado but they are doing a drill so that everyone knows what it sounds like and can plan for one. They are said to be doing this in the Kansas and Missouri area, so both states should hear it.

Usually the local news stations end up doing some sort of story on how some areas are not covered well by the tornado sirens this week every year. They’ll interview some person that didn’t hear the siren during an approaching tornado in the past. Unfortunately, they often miss the point. Tornado sirens are only there to alert people OUTSIDE. The fact that some can hear them inside is simply a bonus. Unless you live in close proximity to a siren, the likelyhood of you hearing it inside your home in the middle of a noisy thunderstorm is low. Add the possibility that you may be asleep, and you can understand the problem. This is why I urge EVERYONE to have a NOAA All-Hazards radio in their home. In my opinion, they are as important as a smoke or carbon monoxide detector in your home.