I keep hearing that we are a month behind this year since we really did not have a spring in the Minneapolis area. Now, with the high temps and storms already making their presence, I feel like we are almost a month ahead! I just love summer in Minnesota, and most of us Minnesotans do not take it for granted! Unfortunately, summer also can bring a number of potential natural weather occurrences, such as severe thunderstorms, floods, extreme heat, and tornadoes.
The weather has accounted for most of Minnesota’s 66 FEMA disaster declarations since the 1950’s. And once the dangerous weather has struck, it is too late to start thinking about your plan to stay safe.
Don’t get caught in the storm
In an average year, 44 tornadoes touch down in Minnesota. In addition, severe thunderstorms occur even more frequently and can be just as dangerous.
To help alert residents, sirens are used for severe weather warnings, as well as for other situations when people should take shelter. Weather-related sirens are triggered when the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning, and/or if there are reports of constant straight-line winds of at least 70 mph.
It’s important to know the difference!
Watches and warnings:
Severe weather watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center.
Severe weather warnings and advisories are issued by the local National Weather Service.
Keep safe in a severe storm
If a storm hits, find shelter away from windows, preferably on a lower level or in a basement, making sure you have a way to get up-to-date information via TV, radio, or NOAA weather radio. In addition, have a shelter-in-place kit ready with the following items:
High summer temperatures can also be dangerous, as heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities in the United States. Adults over 65, children younger than four and people with chronic illnesses are most at-risk.
You can stay safe in extreme heat by:
If disaster should strike 24Restore’s highly trained team is here for you! No disaster of any kind is too big or too small and we are available 24/7/365.
~ the people ~ the equipment ~ the expertise ~