Outdoor warning sirens will go off twice Thursday in Minnesota, but it’s just a test.
Sirens will sound and the National Weather Service will issue a false tornado alert on social media at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. The exercise is being carried out as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week events.
“Now is a great time to put your preparedness plans into practice,” the National Weather Service said.
Tornadoes — and even severe storms — have been rare in recent years in Hennepin County, said Eric Waage, Hennepin County emergency management director, emphasizing the need for people to take the exercise to heart on Thursday.
“We want people to use them as a tool and plan what they would do if they heard them in a bad weather situation,” he said.
Last year, the state experienced just 25 tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center. That was well below the average of 46 per year between 1950 and 2020, the Minnesota Bureau of Climatology said.
The afternoon exercise aims to get businesses and schools to adopt plans and practice taking people to safety.
Tornadoes can strike anytime and anywhere, but they typically occur between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., the National Severe Storms Laboratory said.
This is one of the reasons why a second exercise is held just after dinner time. It is aimed at second-shift workers and allows individuals and families to practice emergency plans at home, the Department of Public Safety said.
“Where would you go?” » asked Waage.
Waage said Thursday was also a good reminder that citizens should have multiple ways to receive warnings. Sirens are one way, but people need additional channels, including listening to the radio or television, checking their cell phones and investing in a NOAA weather radio that broadcasts alerts when severe weather is imminent.
