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Tornado Home • Tornado Basics • Preparing for Tornadoes • Responding to Tornadoes
By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:
WHEREAS, tornadoes are capable of forming with little or no warning and their destructive power can cause significant property damage and loss of life wherever they touch down; and
WHEREAS, a total of 39 tornadoes struck the Commonwealth during 2008, injuring more than 220 citizens and causing more than $45 million in damage to homes, businesses and other property; and
WHEREAS, appropriate planning and preparing for tornadoes and severe storms can often reduce the impact of these emergencies on our citizens and their property; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, local emergency offices and the National Weather Service should have a designated day to focus Virginians’ attention on tornado safety awareness and important life-saving procedures to be used in the event of a tornado; and
WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to know where to seek shelter during a tornado whether at home, at work, at school or elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management encourages schools, businesses and families to participate in a test tornado drill to be conducted by Emergency Alert Systems and broadcast by NOAA Weather Radio on March 17, 2009, at 9:45 a.m.;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Timothy M. Kaine, do hereby recognize March 17, 2009, as TORNADO PREPAREDNESS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.