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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-910-9111

County will activate outdoor warning sirens during Severe Weather Awareness Week

April 15 is the day of Minnesota’s statewide tornado drill. Hennepin County will participate by sounding outdoor warning sirens twice, once at 1:45 p.m. for those in schools or businesses and a second time at 6:45 p.m. for families.

The drills are part of Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 12-16. In Hennepin County, nearly two-thirds of federally declared disasters have been due to tornadoes and other severe weather since 1960. This week serves as a reminder to create, update and practice household and workplace emergency plans.

Sirens alert people who are outdoors of severe weather warnings and other dangerous situations that threaten their safety. When people hear the warning sirens, they should take shelter immediately. People who are indoors may not hear them and instead should rely on another means to get warning, such as a NOAA weather radio and local television or radio stations.

Outdoor warning sirens sound when the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning and/or if there are reports of sustained straight-line winds in excess of 70 miles per hour in the area. While the county activates sirens, the cities within Hennepin County purchase and maintain the equipment.

Siren safety tips

• Obey the sirens. Sirens mean people should seek shelter and tune to local weather information on radio, television or a NOAA weather radio. Unless it’s a first-Wednesday-of-the-month drill, the warning is real.
• Be weather aware. Know the weather forecast when you start the day, and then check the weather throughout the day on days when severe weather is possible
• Be alert and know where to shelter. If conditions change quickly or you see violent/threatening conditions, seek shelter and tune to local media. Take time today to learn and practice the emergency procedures at your workplace or school.
• Get a personal warning. Sirens alert people who are outdoors. Inside your home, you may not hear them. Use a NOAA weather radio or a severe weather smartphone app and stay tuned to local media.

Real-time weather monitoring

View interactive weather forecasts, maps and more at hennepinwestmesonet.org.

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.

Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.