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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
730 AM EST Wed Mar 4 2026

***The Annual Statewide Tornado Drill Will Occur Today at 9:30 AM EST***

As a part of North Carolina`s Severe Weather Awareness Week,
today at 9:30 AM EST, the National Weather Service in cooperation
with local broadcasters will conduct the annual statewide tornado
drill in the form of a Required Monthly Test on all NOAA weather
radio and public alert systems. The alarm test will activate the
State Emergency Alert System and be carried by local radio
broadcasters. This will allow schools, business, and residents the
opportunity to practice their tornado drills and safety plans.
Every school, business, workplace, and family across the state is
strongly encouraged to participate in the statewide tornado drill.

Here are a couple key things to remember about today`s statewide
tornado drill:

- The drill will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency
  Alert System via the Required Monthly Test (RMT). There will
  not be an actual Tornado Warning issued.

- This drill and RMT will take the place of the usual weekly NOAA
  Weather Radio Alert test (RWT). That is, there will not be a
  weekly radio test done between 11 AM and Noon today.

- Some NOAA Weather Radio receivers do not sound an audible alert
  for the RMT product; instead, they may have a blinking light on
  the display to indicate that an RMT was received. As such, when
  the RMT for the statewide tornado drill is initiated at 9:30 AM
  EST this morning, there is a good chance that your NOAA Weather
  Radio may not sound an alarm.

- Since your NOAA Weather Radio may not sound an alarm at the time
  the RMT is issued, you will want to do one of the following: manually
  turn on your NOAA Weather Radio receiver five minutes before
  the start of the drill, and simply listen to the audio broadcast
  to hear when the RMT is issued, which will mark the beginning
  of the statewide tornado drill; or simply plan to start your
  tornado drill on your own at 9:30 AM.

- There will be no follow-up statements issued by the NWS to mark
  the end of the statewide tornado drill. It will simply be over
  when your group, school, business, organization, or family feels
  that you have adequately practiced your tornado shelter
  procedures.

For more information about the statewide tornado drill, and north
Carolinas severe weather awareness week activities, please visit
the following web site: http://www.weather.gov/rah/severeprep


$$