Students throughout Rowan County participated in a tornado drill Wednesday as part of North Carolina Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Rowan-Salisbury Schools participated in a drill Wednesday morning to teach students and staff what to do in the case of a tornado.

Around 9 a.m. word came to the Rowan County 911 Communication Center from the state warning point in Raleigh.

As if a real tornado was happening, 911 dispatchers alerted all the public safety agencies as well as Kathy Walters, spokeswoman for the Rowan-Salisbury Schools.

Walters then sends a message to all schools on the system’s internal messaging system.

School officials are also alerted of such emergencies through their weather alert radios. Given to the school system by Rowan County Emergency Medical Services, these radios are pre-tuned to the National Weather Service broadcast.

During a tornado watch, school officials listen to weather reports on local radio or televisions stations as well as EMS radios.

Teachers are told to secure loose objects outdoors and find the most suitable shelter in the immediate area.

During a tornado warning, students and staff go into the hallways, away from windows, putting their heads down.

Students and staff in mobile classrooms are moved into the main building.

Thomason said these drills allow local communities to run through the steps and test their notification and response processes before an emergency occurs.

Contact Jillian McCartney at 704-797-4253 or jmccartney@salisburypost.com .