Tornado Drills, Siren Tests Scheduled for Thursday

(The following news release comes from Hennepin County.)

April 18, 2011 – (Minneapolis) Tomorrow, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office will be sounding tornado sirens to help educate people about Severe Weather Awareness Week. On Thursday, April 19, at 1:45 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office will be sounding all of the county’s 248 sirens. The sirens are located in Minneapolis and communities throughout the county.

The annual tornado drill is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and it is conducted in cooperation with Hennepin County Emergency Preparedness. The tornado sirens will sound again at 6:55 p.m.

Afternoon Tornado Drill ― 1:45 p.m.

Jurisdictions across Minnesota sound their outdoor warning sirens. Schools, businesses and other facilities are encouraged to conduct a tornado drill at this time.

Evening Tornado Drill ― 6:55 p.m.

The evening drill is important because tornadoes and other types of severe weather often occur between 3 and 8 p.m. The 6:55 p.m. tornado drill also allows families and workers on later shifts to practice their sheltering plans.

Remember throughout the severe weather season, take responsibility for the safety of yourself and your family with the following precautions:

• Sirens are intended to alert people who are outside.  Inside your home, you should have a NOAA weather radio or stay tuned to local media -- to alert you to severe weather. 
• Be “weather aware.” Keep tabs on the weather forecast for your area.  There are times when forecasters predict a likelihood of severe weather many hours or even days in advance.  In these situations, keep that possibility in mind as you consider your plans and be sure to check on the changing forecast.
•  If conditions change quickly or you see violent/threatening conditions, tune to local media and seek shelter.
• Consider using your mobile device to establish alerts for weather warnings. 
• You may subscribe to an email notification system from the Department of Public Safety. For more information, go to http://www.severeweather.state.mn.us/WeatherWarnings.asp#pwa