Columbus, Ohio – Sirens will sound across Ohio at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday as part of a statewide tornado drill, briefly interrupting the morning routine for millions of residents.
According to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, the drill is designed to test warning systems and give households, schools, and businesses a chance to practice tornado safety plans. The alert will simulate a tornado warning, meaning outdoor sirens and some emergency notification systems may activate simultaneously.
Major metro areas including Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Dayton will all participate, along with smaller communities statewide. Schools and office buildings are encouraged to treat the drill as a real event by moving to designated shelter areas such as basements or interior rooms away from windows.
No severe weather is expected at the time of the drill, but officials stress the importance of using this opportunity to review emergency kits, communication plans, and shelter locations. If weather were to become severe, the drill could be postponed.
Residents should not call 911 during the test. Additional severe weather preparedness activities are expected to continue through the week.
