“Even though we are just coming out of a few weeks of severe winter weather, the upcoming spring is the peak tornado season, (and) severe thunderstorms can strike quickly throughout the year,”said Frank Thomason chief of Rowan County Emergency Services.

“The best way to be ready is to plan and prepare. It’s critical to have emergency plans in place, put together an emergency supplies kit and listen for weather alerts,” Thomason said.

Rowan-Salisbury schools and government buildings will participate in the statewide tornado drill 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Test messages will be broadcast on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio and the Emergency Alert system.

“We urge all county residents to participate in the drill wherever they may be that morning,” Thomason said.

“It is important to know what to do and where to go when severe weather strikes,” he said.

In 2014, the National Weather Service issued 81 tornado warnings for North Carolina and recorded 36 tornadoes that killed one and injured 34 people. Combined, the tornadoes caused more than $22 million in damages. The National Weather Service also issued more than 632 severe thunderstorm warnings and recorded more than 686 incidents of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail or both.

The severe storms killed three people and injured seven others, resulting in nearly $3.5 million in damages.

Local officials recommend having a weather radio that broadcasts alerts from the National Weather Service whenever severe weather occurs.

Many tornado fatalities have occurred at night when people are asleep and less likely to receive a warning without a weather radio.

Emergency officials recommend people use the following safety tips:

• Know the terms — WATCH means a tornado is possible and WARNING means a tornado has been spotted; take shelter immediately.

• Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room and away from windows, and go there immediately if you hear or see a tornado.