IOWA - The National Weather Service is making Wednesday the focal point of Iowa's Severe Weather Awareness Week.
A tornado drill is being conducted a 11 am, but it will not feature the normal Test Tornado Watch and Warning broadcast.
The Weather Service is discouraging people from huddling in a room during the pandemic, and will instead activate the drill through social media and the NOAA Weather Radio Weekly Test.
It's asking people to set up several ways to get watches and warnings, such as weather radios and cell phone apps, and to have a back-up plan if one method fails.
The focus of the Awareness Week will switch to preparedness Thursday and flooding Friday. Flash flooding kills more people every year than any other severe weather phenomenon.
One of the main messages coming from the Weather Service during the week is for people to have a plan on what to do when severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings are issued.
Peak severe weather season for the state is normally May through July, but storms are possible at any point during the spring, summer and fall.