• It's Severe Weather Preparedness Week across the country, a time set aside by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service for everyone to learn about what types of disasters may occur in their communities, and how to be ready to respond to these emergencies.
• As part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, South Dakota will conduct a statewide tornado drill between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25.
• During the drill, tornado sirens will be sounded, and the Emergency Alert System will activate, taking over local television and radio broadcasts with warnings. On televisions, the visual scroll will look like a real tornado warning, while the audio will identify the incident as a test.
• Local emergency response agencies and schools might conduct exercises and drills during the tornado alert. Both the Groton High School and the Groton Elementary School will be holding tornado drills withing the buildings.
• The National Weather Service reminds the public that people don't need to take any action during the drill, but this is a good time for families to go over their plans for dealing with severe weather and if  there is no plan in place to make plans to protect themselves and their families before storms develop. Being prepared begins long before severe weather threatens. The Red Cross urges everyone to take three important steps to get prepared:
• Get a Kit. Build an easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit that you can use at home or take with you in case you have to evacuate. Include items such as water, non-perishable food, a flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, first aid kit, and medications.
• Make a Plan. Talk with members of your household about what to do during emergencies. Plan what to do in case everyone is separated, and choose two places to meet--one right outside the home, in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire, and another outside the neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate
• Be Informed. Know what situations may occur where you live, where you work, where you go to school.

• -Char Telkamp