Owatonna Fire Department is joining the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service in promoting general weather safety for Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 8-12, 2024. The highlight of Severe Weather Awareness Week are two statewide tornado drills on Thursday, April 11. During the drills, local sirens and all National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios will sound with a simulated tornado warning. These drills give everyone the opportunity to review their emergency plans and procedures and practice emergency drills at work or at home.
The first drill occurs on Thursday, April 11 at 1:45 pm. The second drill occurs on Thursday, April 11 at 6:45 pm. The outdoor warning sirens will sound, and NOAA weather radios will activate with the weekly test code. If real severe weather is a significant threat on or before drill day, the National Weather Service's offices may postpone the simulated watch and warning to Friday.
More information is available on the Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and National Weather Service (NWS) websites.