Tornado sirens throughout Kansas will blare at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, as part of the annual statewide tornado drill.

The event is part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 4-8, when area residents and businesses are asked to review and practice their safety procedures in the event of a tornado or other kind of storm.

During the week, state and local emergency management agencies are encouraging residents and businesses to purchase an All Hazard NOAA Weather Radio, if they don’t already have one, and to program the radio for Douglas County and surrounding areas. The radios broadcast severe weather watches, warnings and other information directly from the National Weather Service.

People who already have weather radios are encouraged to check the batteries so they will operate even when the power is out.

Each day during Severe Weather Awareness Week, Douglas County Emergency Management will focus on different weather-related safety topics:

• Monday: watches and warnings.

• Tuesday: All-Hazard NOAA Weather Radios and outdoor warning sirens, including the statewide tornado drill.

• Wednesday: thunderstorms and lightning.

• Thursday: floods and flash floods.

• Friday: preparedness.

On Saturday, the agency will host its 13th annual Severe Weather Symposium. The event is from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kansas University Memorial Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd.

The symposium will include information about advanced storm development, spotter safety, storm videos, and presentations from weather experts from the National Weather Service and private industry.

It will conclude with a panel discussion featuring local TV meteorologists.

Registration for the event is $15. For more information, contact Douglas County Emergency Management at 832-5259.