Sirens to sound in county on Thursday

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Severe Weather Awareness Week takes place April 19-23 this year, with the statewide tornado drills on Thursday, April 22 – including Douglas County.

At 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, the National Weather Service will issue a simulated tornado warning and outdoor warning sirens will be activated. At 6:55 p.m., a second drill will take place in Douglas County for families and second-shift workers.

“Every family and business should take this opportunity to put weather emergency plans into action,” said Troy Wolbersen, Douglas County Emergency Management director. “Tornadoes follow no pattern, and dangerous thunderstorms are common in Minnesota. There’s no substitute for practice when the real thing comes along.”

According to National Weather Service data, tornadoes have occurred in every Minnesota county at some time during that past 60 years. Douglas County has experienced 15 tornadoes since 1950.

For more information about Severe Weather Awareness Week, turn to page A11.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, along with the National Weather Service, sponsors Severe Weather Awareness Week annually to promote weather knowledge and planning. A website at www.severeweather.state.mn.us contains tornado safety information along with instructions on surviving thunderstorms, hail, straight-line winds, heat waves, floods and lightning.

Links to the National Weather Service and the Red Cross provide fascinating weather facts and a variety of downloadable resources for families, teachers and children.

For local resources, contact Wolbersen at (320) 762-8151.

Tags: severe weather awareness week, douglas county, news, weather, sirens, tornado, storm