 Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 7-11! Severe weather is a year-round concern in Minnesota, with threats ranging from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms to flooding and extreme heat. Each year, Severe Weather Awareness Week highlights the importance of preparedness and safety measures for individuals, businesses, and communities.
In Minnesota, common weather hazards include:
- Tornadoes – Sudden and destructive storms that can cause significant damage.
- Severe thunderstorms – Heavy rain, strong winds, lightning, and hail.
- Flooding – While usually a concern, the 2025 Spring Flood Outlook indicates a below-normal flood risk due to minimal snowpack and reduced frost depth.
- Extreme heat – High temperatures and humidity that can be dangerous, especially for vulnerable populations.
This is a great opportunity to refresh your knowledge on emergency planning, severe storms, and flood safety. More information regarding the 2025 Spring Flood Outlook can be found through the NWS Twin Cities -- 2025 Spring Flood Outlook. For more information regarding severe weather and planning, visit the Severe weather awareness week | Minnesota Department of Public Safety webpage.
The Minnesota Department of Health’s Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Division has released an updated version of the All-Hazards Response and Recovery Plan (AHRRP). This document provides guidance for responding to public health emergencies across the state.
- Key updates in the plan:
- Legal Bases & References
- Health Equity
- Assumptions & Considerations
- MDH Organizational Chart
- Job Action Sheets
- Partner Notification & Incident Command System (ICS) Activation
To review the full document, visit: All-Hazards Response & Recovery Plan. For questions or additional information, contact Deb Radi, deb.radi@state.mn.us, or John Bowen, john.bowen@state.mn.us.
Deann Holland
Deann Holland is the new public health preparedness consultant (PHPC) for the Southwest Region and Tribal Nations in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division. Previously, she was an emergency preparedness planner for Southwest Health and Human Services and the coordinator for the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) Safe Roads Coalition. She is also a certified trainer for Bridges Out of Poverty.
Her background includes corporate communications and strategic marketing in health care. Communication has been central to her career, with experience in writing, editing, multimedia, photography, and crisis communications.
Deann approach to achieving successful outcomes includes collaboration, developing new ideas, and recognizing resources and dynamics. She is passionate about issues related to poverty, traffic safety, and children's emotional well-being.
In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, binge-watching TV shows, and spending time with family. After years of collecting antiques from estate and garage sales, she is now selling some of her collectibles at a vintage secondhand store. She also enjoys event planning and is currently organizing details for her daughter’s wedding in 2026.
Deann and her husband, Craig, live on a small acreage in Marshall. They have two college-age children, Elliot and Josie.
Welcome Deann!
The Healthcare Preparedness program (HPP) within EPR has been has been working to enhance long term care, skilled nursing facilities. and critical access hospitals with their emergency preparedness plans through three key initiatives:
- Continuity of Operations (COOP) Workshops and Technical Assistance: Workshops on Continuity of Operations planning have been completed, but resources remain available online. One-on-one technical assistance (TA) sessions are still open for facilities needing support in developing their COOP plans.
- Emergency Preparedness Training: Both online and in-person courses covering the fundamentals of emergency preparedness for health care settings.
- Long-Term Care Toolkit Update: The toolkit is being revised to provide updated guidance and best practices, with a new version expected by the end of spring.
COOP Workshops
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) contracted with All Clear Emergency Management Group to conduct two in-person Continuity of Operations workshops—one in Monticello and one in Owatonna—to help long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals develop their COOP plans.
In these workshops, participants:
- Learn the purpose and fundamentals of a COOP plan.
- Receive guidance on developing a COOP plan.
- Identify implementation strategies using the MDH COOP Toolkit.
Technical Assistance Sessions
MDH expanded its contract to offer up to four hours of in-person COOP technical assistance (TA) for health care facilities across Minnesota.
TA is available for hospitals, long-term care (LTC) facilities, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and assisted living facilities (ALFs) seeking one-on-one COOP guidance. Ten sessions remain available.
Emergency Preparedness and Response in Health care Facilities
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Healthcare Preparedness Program is sponsoring an all-day workshop to help health care professionals in long-term care facilities strengthen their preparedness and response capabilities.
Whether you’re new to the field or an experienced professional, this workshop provides practical strategies and tools to enhance your facility’s emergency management practices.
Workshop Dates and Locations
- March 25: Mankato
- April 8: St. Cloud
If you are a professional in the emergency management field and are interested in attending the workshops, reach out to mallen@vitallearningstrategies.com for more information.
Long-Term Care Toolkit
In addition to the above workshops, the long-term care work group is updating their Long-Term Care toolkit. An updated version will be available by the end of spring.
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