Severe Weather Awareness Week/Tornado Drills

(Learfield News/St. Paul, MN) — It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, and Minnesota public safety officials are reminding residents to get ready before storms hit.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Allison Farole says it’s important to know the difference between a tornado watch and a warning—calling a ‘watch’ a time to stay alert, and a ‘warning’ a signal to take immediate action.

Officials also urge families to have a severe weather plan, and an emergency kit stocked with essentials like medication, water, food, flashlights, and a battery-operated radio.

Two state-wide tornado drills are being held today (Thursday).

Sirens and other notification will be activated at 1:45pm and 6:45pm.

Officials say those are good times to work on safety plans.

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