Kip Kendrick, Presiding Commissioner

Justin Aldred, District I Commissioner

Janet Thompson, District II Commissioner

Roger B. Wilson

Boone County Government Center

801 E. Walnut St., Rm 333

Columbia, MO 65201-7732

(573) 886-4305 (573) 886-4311

Boone County
Commission

Boone County News Release

Annual Statewide Tornado Drill on March 4th, 2026, as Part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week

COLUMBIA, Mo. (March 2, 2026) - The National Weather Service and Missouri State Emergency Management Agency have designated March 2 – 6, 2026, as Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The Boone County Office of Emergency Management (BCOEM) encourages schools, businesses, organizations, and households to participate throughout the week by discussing related safety topics.

BCOEM will be participating in the Annual Statewide Tornado Drill being held at 11 a.m. on March 4, weather permitting. During this drill, NOAA Weather Radios will be activated and the outdoor warning sirens in Boone County will sound.

“Severe weather is a reality in Missouri, and preparation is our strongest defense,” said Chris Kelley, Director of Boone County Emergency Management. “The statewide tornado drill gives our residents, schools, businesses, and public safety partners an opportunity to practice their plans now, so they are ready to act quickly and confidently when real warnings are issued.”

The Statewide Tornado Drill will replace the outdoor warning siren system test originally planned for noon on March 4, which would have been the scheduled monthly test of the system.

Anyone who believes a siren is not operating properly should reach out to BCOEM by calling 573-554-7900.

To learn more about the outdoor warning siren system, visit the BCOEM website at https://www.boonemo.gov/oem/resources/sirens.asp.

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