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Spotlight
Practice Tornado Safety during Statewide Drill March 16
Tornado Preparedness Day in Virginia is Tuesday, March 16. The statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 9:45 a.m. that day.
Everyone is encouraged to participate. More than 525,000 Virginians have already signed up to take part in this year’s tornado drill, more than in any previous year.
Register for the March 16, 2010 Statewide Tornado Drill
Tornado drills are not just for schoolchildren. In fact, 16 tornadoes struck Virginia last year. Fortunately, not one of them hit during school hours. All Virginians should practice tornado safety by conducting drills at work, at home, and at school. The statewide tornado drill is an annual effort of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service. Governor Bob McDonnell has proclaimed March 16 to be Tornado Preparedness Day in Virginia.
Visit our Tornado Preparedness section to get safety tips and preparedness information for you and your family. There are simple, low-cost steps families can take to be ready: get a kit, make a plan and stay informed. Visit the Ready Virginia Web site for more about these three important steps. 
Governor Bob McDonnell announced that President Barack Obama has granted a request for federal assistance to state and local governments in Virginia for recovery from the Severe Winter Storm that occurred Dec. 18-20, 2009.
- Read the Governor's news release [Governor's Office]
Winter Weather Preparedness
Visit our Winter Weather section to learn how to prepare for the potential impact of severe winter weather: get a kit, make a plan, and stay informed.
Also, visit Ready Virginia to learn about three simple steps you can take to make sure you and your family are safe and prepared for Winter weather. 
What's New
- Governor McDonnell requests federal disaster assistance for state and local governments. Two February storms brought a total of nearly 4 feet of snow to parts of Virginia. (03.13.10)
- Major and moderate flooding possible tonight and tomorrow morning (03.12.10)
- Spring flooding season approaches. Virginia property owners and renters should buy flood insurance (03.12.10)
- Changes in emergency management topic of upcoming symposium (03.03.10)
- Practice Tornado Safety during Statewide Drill March 16 (03.01.10)
- Governor McDonnell Declares State of Emergency for Western and Southwestern Virginia --Localized Blizzard Conditions Impacting Communities from Tazewell County to Highland County-- (02.27.10) [Governor's Office]
- 2010 General Assembly: Emergency Management Related Bills
- Governor McDonnell Announces Federal Disaster Assistance for State and Local Governments (02.16.10) [Governor's Office]
- Registration is now open for the 2010 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium, to be held Mar. 31-Apr. 2, 2010.
- Updated Elected Officials’ Guide to Emergencies and Disasters now available for download [1MB pdf]
- Statewide tornado drill:March 16. Read more in the Mar. 10, 2010 issue of the EM Update.
