North Carolina tornado drills part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week after deadly tornadoes devastate Alabama

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The entire state of North Carolina will be participating in tornado drills Wednesday as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, just days after multiple tornadoes swept across the southeast. 

Schools and businesses across the state will be taking part in the drills, which are designed to make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.

An alarm will sound at 9:30 a.m. At that time, schools and businesses will go through their disaster and emergency plan. 

Here are some safety tips from North Carolina Emergency Management:

• Go to the basement or smallest center room of your home
• Stay away from windows
• Cover your body with a blanket to protect yourself from falling debris
• If you live in an apartment, go to the lowest floor stairwell of the building

And if you’re driving, experts say you should get out and seek shelter immediately if you see a tornado or are in an area with severe weather. You should never try to outrun a tornado in your car. 

POPULAR ON WCNC.COM: