Listen for tornado sirens Wednesday morning across Brookhaven as part of an annual safety test.

The National Weather Service will issue a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 9:15 a.m. as part of Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week.

The goal of this week is to make sure that people are prepared for severe weather, such as flash floods and tornadoes.

This tornado drill will test safety procedures, communication systems, and processes currently in place. Outdoor sirens will sound across all Mississippi communities and on weather radios.

All home schools, businesses, hospitals and government agencies are encouraged to practice the safety drill during the alert on Wednesday morning.

Emergency officials say this drill could be lifesaving.

A record-breaking 115 tornadoes were confirmed last year in Mississippi.

Although March, April and May bring the greatest threat of severe weather to the state, emergency officials say the late fall months have proven to be just as active.

When practicing the tornado drill, go to an inside room or lowest floor in the home where there are no windows.

For added protection, get under a sturdy covering such as a heavy table or underneath a bench.

In the event of severe weather, MEMA reminds everyone to know how to get alerts, have a plan, and be prepared to take action.