Preparing for severe weather

As the past two years have shown, severe weather can strike anytime. April 21 to 27 has been named severe weather awareness week by the National Weather Service, and the months of April to September are statistically the most likely time for strong storms to develop. In observance of this, Denise Wright, Waseca county’s emergency management director, has a few tips on how Minnesotans should prepare for the different situations storms can bring.

 

When a tornado watch comes across the radar, Wright said it means, not that a tornado is occurring, but that conditions are favorable for one to develop. In response, residents living in the area of a tornado watch should be prepared.

 

The first thing Wright suggests is signing up on the Waseca County government site for the CodeRED Emergency Notification System–a network which is activated when there is a potential for severe weather. CodeRED has been in place since May 2021, according to a video on KEYC.com; it allows residents to receive important non-emergency alerts and time-sensitive messages in real time–providing they’ve signed up. In addition to registering, Wright suggests one way to “watch” for a tornado is to keep cell phones on hand.

 

The county can also deliver emergency alerts via the nation’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, known as IPAWS. This works with CodeRED to share information about life-threatening emergencies. Usually the National Weather Service (NWS) will release pertinent alerts at least one to two days ahead of time.

 

Another bit of advice Wright stressed is that each family should have an emergency plan and a designated meeting spot. In fact, she added, families should have a place they plan to meet outside of town if weather takes a turn for the worse.

 

Wright noted that residents can get confused between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. While a watch calls for a bit of “watchfulness,” a warning means radar or spotters have indicated a tornado is currently occurring. When a warning is issued, residents need to take immediate shelter. The location should be chosen in advance and needs to be in a sturdy structure, typically in a basement with no windows. Folks who don’t have a basement might want to make arrangements in advance with a friend or neighbor who does.

 

For a family with young children, Wright suggested placing snacks or other distractions either in the basement, or in a place where they can be grabbed easily when evacuating to a place of shelter; all family members should know where the “storm kit” is located, so it can be found and used even with very short notice. She suggests making trips to the shelter as comfortable and calming as possible, so children will not argue about going there when another warning is issued. Wright advises having other items like board games on hand, so children can be engaged while also allowing adults to take note of developments in the situation–whether for the better or worse.

 

Wright further advised keeping backup supplies on hand like extra shoes, a portable radio, cash, medications, blankets, formula for babies, bottled water, and canned food or other non-perishable food items like trail mixes. She mentioned that residents should keep important documents and ensure they are laminated and included in the kit like driver’s licenses, social security, or insurance information in case something happens to the originals. While this might seem extreme, she offers that having these documents accessible will prevent possible stress later on if anyone needs to identify themselves or seek assistance. She explained that when someone needs to identify themselves, getting their hands on those needed documents can be nearly impossible if that person has to start from scratch.

 

Because anything can happen, Wright also said it’s important to have a contact person outside of the city in case of a tornado warning. If family members get separated, they have a known plan regarding where they can go to rendezvous if things reach an extreme level.

 

Wright commended the National Weather Service for being very good at predicting the potential for severe weather even a few days ahead of the possible event.

 

“Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters,” Wright said.