Carlton County to sound alert sirens April 19

The week of April 16-20 is “Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota.” Each day of the week will have a specific topic such as “Thunderstorms, Hail, Straight-Line Winds and Lightning,” “Severe Weather Warning Systems” etc. The goal of this special week is to educate Minnesotans on the need to be ready by getting a kit, making a plan, and being informed.

Minnesota will conduct a statewide tornado drill on Thursday, April 19. The traditional afternoon statewide drill will be conducted at 1:45 p.m. The National Weather Service will initiate the process by issuing a statewide “simulated tornado watch” at 1 p.m. A “simulated tornado warning” will be issued and disseminated beginning at 1:45p.m. The statewide drill will conclude at 2 p.m. A second drill will be conducted at 6:55 p.m. that same day.

Carlton County Emergency Management and local public safety officials will participate in both drills by testing the civil defense/weather alert sirens located in the following communities: Barnum, Carlton, Cloquet, Cromwell, Kettle River, Moose Lake, Scanlon and Wrenshall. Community sirens should sound for approximately one minute. Representatives from each community will be in contact with Carlton County Dispatch to report the testing of the siren equipment.

The appropriate safety actions could help save lives, prevent injuries and protect property. The websites provided by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security/ Emergency Management (www.severeweather.state.mn.us) and the National Weather Service Office in Duluth (www.crh.noaa.gov/dlh/) are excellent sources of additional information.

Tags: carlton county, updates