RICHMOND — The Feb. 24 severe storm system that spawned eight tornadoes, caused five deaths and inflicted damage to more than 400 structures provided a stark reminder that tornadoes occur in Virginia.

On Tuesday, March 22 at 9:45 a.m., the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service (NWS) will hold the statewide tornado drill, which is an annual effort to prepare citizens for tornado emergencies and test public warning systems.

“Two weeks ago, many areas of the state were under a tornado warning, and some had to quickly get themselves, their families and co-workers to safety,” said State Coordinator Dr. Jeff Stern. “But an actual tornado warning isn’t the time to figure out where you should go or what to do to stay safe.”

The drill will start at approximately 9:45 a.m. with a test tornado warning sent by the NWS to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radios.