This week, Monday January 30, 2012 until Friday, February 3, 2012, is Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week, designed to make Florida residents aware of the severe weather hazards faced here in Florida each year.  

Each day of Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week, a different severe weather hazard impacting Florida residents will be featured in order to raise awareness and make sure emergency plans are in place.  

Wednesday, February 1, 2012, the severe weather hazard featured for Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week is tornadoes and thunderstorms, and a Tornado Warning Drill will be practiced for the entire state of Florida.
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According to the U.S. National Weather Service in Melbourne, a practice Tornado Warning will be sent at approximately 10:10 am EST on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 via NOAA Weather Radio Drill.  

On the morning of Wednesday, February 1, 2012, Florida residents are asked to consider themselves under a tornado watch for the morning and keep a close eye on the weather.  

A statewide Tornado Drill will take place at 10:10 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, conducted by the National Weather Service and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. 

All Florida residents, schools, businesses, and families are asked to participate in this statewide Tornado Drill on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:10 am.  Once the drill goes off, a Tornado Warning is in place, meaning that you must take shelter immediately in a safe and sturdy structure.  If not possible to participate in the statewide Tornado Drill Wednesday morning, discuss your tornado safety plan. 

The practice Tornado Warning will be sent as a Routine Weekly Test (RWT).  Some local radio and TV stations, as well as local Emergency Management departments will also broadcast the state-wide practice Tornado Warning.  

The practice Tornado Warning will end at approximately 10:30 am EST on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.  

If severe weather occurs on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, then the state-wide practice Tornado Warning for Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week will take place on Friday, February 3, 2012.
  

Depending on your weather radio, the practice Tornado Warning Drill via Routine Weekly Test (RWT) will alert either as an audible sound, as a yellow advisory display light on the console, or as a scrolling text with "Routine Weekly Test" on the display. 

Participate in Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week by becoming informed of the weather hazards that affect us in Florida, creating an emergency plan in the event of severe weather, and informing the people around you of the severe weather hazards and precautions that need to be taken.

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