Students at Banks Elementary take caution during Wednesday’s statewide tornado drill. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

The state is taking precaution for severe weather in schools, and Lenoir County is no exception.

Severe Weather Preparedness Week started Monday and continues until Saturday. On Wednesday morning, schools and government buildings held tornado drills to practice emergency plans in the event of a possible twister or thunderstorm in the future. According to the National Weather Service, there were 35 deaths and 516 injuries due to tornadoes during a 2017 study, with thunderstorms taking the lives of 46 and injuring 234.

Banks Elementary School Principal Susan Glover said precautions were taken from the beginning of Wednesday’s drill and her team executed well.

“From Day 1, we had been prepared for the drill,” Glover said. “The teachers and staff knew where to go, the students found their positions and we were able to get it done smoothly.”

Among the staff assisting in Wednesday’s drill was custodian Wesley Robinson.

“Everything worked out in a timely manner and they were good in following the plan,” he said.

The children took the task seriously at Banks, including second-grader Racer Mitchell.

“I felt scared,” Mitchell said. “I thought it was real (at first), but if it was, we would see bricks flying around.”

Fellow second-grader Abigail Williams shared similar sentiments.

“I felt a little nervous and scared because I’ve seen videos where a tornado would take out a whole building.”

For more information, go to weather.gov/rah/2019ncswpw.