Ohio’s statewide tornado drill at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday
Columbus and Central Ohio Weather
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As part of severe weather awareness week in Ohio, a statewide tornado drill took place at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday.
In Franklin County, warning sirens were activated for three minutes. This was a longer tone compared with the weekly Wednesday tests at noon. The county emergency management agency reported that all 196 series successfully sounded.
While sirens were activated in most Ohio counties, Delaware and Logan county EMA’s have opted not to do the siren test after tornadoes last week.
Every year in March, the Ohio EMS puts aside one week to educate the public about potential severe weather. After a historic winter where Ohio had more than a dozen tornadoes, the EMS is hoping to get locals to continue to stay prepared for the chance of more severe weather in the spring.
What to know for Ohio Severe Weather Awareness Week 2024
“With tornadoes and severe weather capable of striking at any moment, readiness becomes our safeguard against the storm,” said Jeffrey J. Young, Director, Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security. “The annual Statewide Tornado Drill is our chance to rehearse and refine our emergency plans and be ready to unite in safeguarding our community.”
In an average year, Ohio experiences about 20 tornadoes, most generally on the weaker end, with winds between 65 and 110 mph. Heading into the annual test, the state had already nearly reached its annual average before the first day of spring.
The first tornado surge came on February 28 when 9 tornadoes touched down in Ohio, including EF-1 tornadoes in Hilliard and Madison County and an EF-2 in Licking County. It marked the second year in a row tornadoes touched down in February.
On March 14, eight tornadoes touched down with multiple being more severe than in February’s storm. Among the March tornadoes in Ohio was an EF-3 in Logan County where three people were killed. Delaware and Licking counties also had confirmed tornadoes with the damage causing Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to declare a state of emergency.
A barn collapsed during the March 14, 2024 storms in Delaware County. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn) Tornado east of London caught on a home security camera. (Christopher Estep) Storm Team 4’s guide on the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. Storm Team 4’s guide on safest options to shelter during the event of a tornado warning or other severe weather. Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (NBC4) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce) A house in West Jefferson with extensive damage after a possible tornado on February 28, 2024. (NBC4/Eric Halperin) Multiple people are dead in Logan County after violent storms and possible tornadoes ripped through central Ohio, March 14, 2024. (Courtesy/Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce) A house in Hilliard take storm damage after a tornado warning February 28, 2024 (Courtesy Photo/Hilliard Division of Police) Multiple power lines block Durrett Road in southwest Columbus after thunderstorms and a tornado warning on February 28, 2024. (Courtesy Photo/AEP Ohio)
During Wednesday’s tornado drill, the Ohio EMA encourages businesses, schools, and households to practice their severe weather plans when the sirens go off. In addition to tornadoes, the EMA shared protocols in the event of floods. For more details, click here.
For your most accurate forecast from Storm Team 4, click here. Stick with NBC4 and Storm Team 4 on-air and online in the event of severe weather warnings.
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