Students will be crouching in the halls of their schools Tuesday as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service are jointly sponsoring the week to remind the public that severe storms, tornadoes and flash floods are significant hazards in South Carolina and that people need to take proper safety precautions. A highlight of the week will be the annual statewide tornado drill. State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex is encouraging schools statewide to participate in the drill.

Randy Crocker, Safety and Security Coordinator for the Union County School District, said that unlike in the past, the drill will not be initiated via an alert broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio. Instead, the district has scheduled the drill for 9 a.m. Tuesday. When the alert sounds, students will go into the hallways of their schools and crouch against the walls.

If schools have other activities planned for that time, Crocker said they will permitted to reschedule the drill for later in the week.

The Union County School District conducts several emergency drills during the school year including monthly fire drills; lockdown drills twice a year; and earthquake drills in the fall.

Emergency Preparedness Director Stephen Jones said his department will review its policies and plans for emergencies as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week. Jones said he has also been contact with Crocker about the district’s plans. He said Crocker will inform him of the outcome of the drills.