RALIEGH, N.C. — Emergency management professionals in Raleigh conducted a tornado drill on Wednesday.

The training at the Wake County Health and Human Services Northern Regional Center was part of a statewide effort.

What You Need To Know

  • A statewide tornado drill was held Wednesday

  • One exercise was conducted at the Wake County Health and Human Services Northern Regional Center

  • Elementary school students in Durham practiced, too

”We encourage everyone across the state to take this opportunity today to practice what they would do if an actual tornado warning was issued or a tornado was heading their way,” said Nick Petro, the warning coordination meteorologist for the Raleigh National Weather Service.

Petro and others say having a plan for when a tornado touches down is important.

Ross Yeager says that in 2011, his home was impacted by a tornado in Wake County.

“I could hear glass breaking and it tore the roof off our house. Just sitting there with my family thinking, ’These are some moments you hope nobody goes through,’” Yeager said.

Yeager is the director of WCHHS Northern Regional Center. He said last March they had completed a similar exercise when violent storms rolled through the area. He said his staff was ready.

”They knew what to do. Nobody was panicked. Everybody went to the designated area and they waited until the all clear was given,” Yeager said.

Meteorologists at the Raleigh NWS hub say this drill is timely since the peak of tornado season is March, April and May.

Experts say the best shelter is on the bottom floor with lots of walls between you and the outside, away from rooms with glass.

Students in Durham returned to class right after the drill.

“What page are we on?” Rosie Jawo asked her teacher Debra Williams.

She is one of the many children at Creekside Elementary School who learned the importance of the drill, too.

“We just had to put our heads over our neck(s) and bend,” Jawo said.

Jawo said paying attention is key. Her teachers asked the fourth-grader to follow a few rules during the drill.

“Be quiet and don’t talk,” Jawo said.

Some of the other instructions were to come out of the classrooms, walk in a straight line until you get to the windowless hallway, keep your head down and crouch.

Her classmate, Wells O’Neal, understands why he must set a good example.

"If we are near younger grades, we try our best to show a good role model to them,” O’Neal said.

Creekside Principal Victoria Creamer’s advice is simple. The principal said she wants students and staff to know they are being looked out for.

“Our biggest message with the staff is to use common sense,” Creamer said. “The message for kids is that our school truly is a safe place and the adults have a plan in case of an emergency.”