By Norma Dittman
Staff Writer
Minnesota will observe Severe Weather Awareness Week beginning Monday, April 17th through Friday, April 21st. Two statewide tornado drills will be held on Thursday, April 20th at 1:45 p.m. and at 6:45 p.m.
The purpose of these two tornado drills is to provide an opportunity for residents to prepare their homes, families, and communities for the severe weather that can come during Minnesota’s springs and summers.
An information sheet can be accessed at https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/weather-awareness-preparedness/Documents/swaw-2017-info-sheet.pdf. Below are some of the ideas on how individuals, families, businesses, and schools can participate during the 2017 Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week.
• Create or update emergency plans with your entire family so everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. Ensure everyone has up-to-date contact info and knows what to do.
• Practice your family plan during the tornado drills on Thursday at 1:45 p.m. or 6:45 p.m. Have everyone build a family emergency kit together.
• Check with places your family spends time, such as schools, workplaces, churches, markets, or sports facilities to learn what
their emergency plans are.
• Share the plans for these areas with your entire family and talk about what you would do if your family was not together during a disaster.
PREPARE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
• Involve your neighbors. Help prepare your neighborhood by asking, “What’s our plan?” Talk to your neighbors about their preparedness plans and make sure your plans are compatible. Find out who has special needs and might need help in an emergency.
• Plan with your neighborhood. Make sure there is an evacuation plan for your neighborhood, and communicate it to your neighbors.
• Help neighbors get informed. Host a neighborhood preparedness meeting. Invite your local emergency manager or responders to help lead the discussions.
As a reminder of what damage tornadoes can cause, some will remember the Chandler-Lake Wilson F5 tornado that occurred on June 16, 1992. 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of that tornado that destroyed more than 75 homes and damaged another 90 homes, 10 businesses, a church and a school. The National Weather Service estimated that this tornado produced winds in an excess of 260 mph.
There have been seven F5 tornados reported in the State of Minnesota from 1820 to 2002.
In 2016 one EF0 tornado was reported in Pipestone County in Southwestern Minnesota.
