Keeping Minnesota Ready SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS APRIL 13-17, 2015 This is the time to reach out to your community and help them get ready for the severe weather season. Minnesota media outlets will be highlighting this information, so this is a great time to encourage your local residents and businesses to review their emergency preparedness plans and teach them how to be prepared and ready for a safe and enjoyable summer season. STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILLS ARE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 16 AT 1:45 P.M. AND 6:55 P.M . Be aware! Sirens and NOAA weather radios are expected to sound for the two tornado drills across the state, so use this excellent opportunity to conduct community outreach and safety education. During Severe Weather Awareness Week each day’s theme highlights one of the top weather threats in Minnesota and how to be informed and prepared for them. Each day of the week focuses on a different topic. • • • • • Monday — Tuesday — Wednesday — Thursday — Friday — Alerts and Warnings Severe Weather, Lightning and Hail Floods Tornadoes (with statewide tornado drills) Extreme Heat 50 T H ANNIVERSARY OF TWO SEVERE WEATHER DISASTERS In April of 1965, spring snow melt resulted in record breaking seasonal floods across the state and especially along the Mississippi River putting parts of St. Paul, Winona, Wabasha, and other communities underwater. Just a few weeks later, on May 6, 1965 a series of severe storms spawned the worst tornado outbreak in Twin Cities history when six tornadoes swept across the western and northern parts of the metro area including cities of Minneapolis and Fridley, killing 13 people, and injuring hundreds more. In observing these tragic anniversaries, HSEM calls on Minnesotans to not only remember them and the human costs but also to reflect on how we can minimize the effects of future weather events. Science and technology have advanced now to the point of being able to provide early, accurate, real-time warnings directly to threatened communities and even to send emergency warnings directly to people’s cell phones who are in the path of danger. HELP PROMOTE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN YOUR COMMUNITY Specific information about these topics, including factsheets, checklists, data and other resources, is provided on the HSEM Weather Safety or at the National Weather Service, Chanhassen websites. Contact us for comments, questions or support at [email protected]