Whether you knew it or not, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue proclaimed this week Severe Weather Awaress Week. 

The main event in the campaign is the statewide tornado drill, which is scheduled for Friday morning, according to Georgia Emergency Management Director Charley English.

"The NWS will issue a test weather warning to initiate the drill. Local warning systems, NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radio, and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will be activated upon receipt of this warning, to signal the start of the drill," English said.

The state is asking residents to treat the drill as if it were an actual severe weather emergency. The purpose of the annual drill is to test everyone's readiness for quick moving, life-threatening severe weather events such as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, GEMA said.

Perdue urged families, schools, businesses, government agencies and other institutions to participate in the drill and to use Severe Weather Awareness Week as their catalyst into preparing for the 2008 severe weather season. Schools not in session Friday can conduct their severe weather drill on Feb. 13, 20 or 27 when the NWS initiates its weekly NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radio test.