2015 Spring Tornado Awareness Drill in Minnesota and Wisconsin on Thursday, April 16
With warmer temperatures comes the threat of severe weather. To make sure warning equipment is working and to make sure you're prepared, the National Weather Service is conducting a tornado drill in both Minnesota and Wisconsin on Thursday, April 16.
The drill is designed to do a number of things, which include testing warning equipment, making the public aware of warning methods, and creating general storm awareness. The National Weather Service encourages the public to treat these drills as an opportunity to practice your plan of action in the event of an actual tornado.
Here Is What To Know
- At 1:00 pm April 16, the National Weather Service will issue an exercise tornado watch for all of Minnesota and Wisconsin, simulating something that happens with stormy conditions that may produce tornadoes. This exercise watch will last 1 hour.
- At 1:45 pm, a test tornado warning will be issued in all of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Civil alert sirens will go off and emergency broadcast messages on radio and television will be broadcast at this time. Some cellular phones may also display an alert message, depending on your device and settings.
- At 2:00 pm the National Weather Service will issue an "end of test" message.
- Again at 6:55 pm April 16, another test tornado warning will be issued for Minnesota only. The same procedures as the the 1:45 pm test will be followed.
- At 7:10 pm the National Weather Service will issue an "end of test" message.
- A TORNADO WATCH means that conditions are favorable for the potential development of tornadoes
- A TORNADO WARNING means that tornadic activity has either been indicated by radar or spotted by a trained spotter. When a warning is issued for your area, it is important to take action immediately.
How To Prepare
The National Weather Service and the Federal Government's Ready.gov website encourage you to have a plan of action in the event of a tornado, and today is a good day to discuss and practice said plan. Here are the recommendations they offer:
IF YOU ARE IN: | THEN: |
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A structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building) |
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A manufactured home or office |
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The outside with no shelter |
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