ST PAUL, Minn. — If you're hearing tornado sirens sounding across the Twin Cities or anywhere else in Minnesota on Thursday, don't panic, but do consider taking them seriously as practice for a real severe weather situation.
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) will conduct two statewide tornado drills on Thursday, April 11, at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., encouraging Minnesotans to practice their severe weather shelter emergency plans at work, school, and home. In addition to outdoor sirens, NOAA Weather Radios will also sound with a simulated warning and some communities will also send alerts to mobile phones.
Cities and counties own and operate their own sirens, and may have different policies during an actual severe weather situation. HSEM said some communities will activate sirens across an entire county when a tornado warning is issued; others will also sound the siren for severe thunderstorm warnings. Typically, a siren will sound for three minute then go silent. Some communities will repeat the siren later. HSEM notes there is no "all clear" siren.
The drills are part of the annual Severe Weather Awareness week conducted by the National Weather Service.
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