Areas devastated by flooding and tornadoes across Minnesota heighten the importance of planning and educating the public on local emergency procedures. 

This week—proclaimed Severe Weather Awareness Week—the Isanti County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will be providing Skywarn (Storm spotter) training from 7-9 p.m. April 23 at Cambridge Intermediate School. Call 763-689-8306 for more information.

The Isanti County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management also wants to educate the public on the Notification and Warning procedures of Isanti County. The county has nine outdoor weather warning sirens:

• 3 in the city of Cambridge

• 4 in city of Isanti

• 1 in city of Braham

• 1 in Isanti Estates

The sirens in Cambridge and the Isanti area are linked together. Thus, eight sirens sound at the same time. The siren in Braham, though not linked with the others, can be activated in conjunction with the Cambridge-Isanti area sirens or separately.

The sirens are activated primarily in two types of instances: monthly testing, and when a severe weather warning has been issued for any portion of Isanti County.

Testing

The Isanti County 9-1-1 Center is responsible for conducting the monthly testing of the weather sirens.  The sounding of the sirens for the monthly test is scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. The test is conducted each month throughout the year.

If you do not believe your siren sounded properly or will not turn off, call the sheriff’s Office 763-689-2141 or Emergency Mngmt., 689-8306.

Weather Warning

The policy of the Isanti County 9-1-1 Center is to sound the outdoor warning sirens when a severe weather warning has been issued by the National Weather Service.

The severe weather warning could be related to a thunderstorm, tornado or flash flood. Sirens are activated to provide a warning only when severe weather is imminent.

Skywarn training

The Isanti County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, will provide the Skywarn Training program.

Also referred to as Storm Spotter, the training will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23  at the Cambridge Intermediate School (the old middle school) Lecture Hall Room 208.

This training is beneficial for those who simply wish to become better informed, as well as those who want to be designated storm spotters. It will be conducted by Mike Bardou, warning coordination meteorologist, from the National Weather Service.

There is no charge for the training, but preregister with the Isanti County Homeland Security/Emergency Management office at 763-689-8306.

— Article provided by Mari DeLage, director of Isanti County Emergency Management

Comments (0)

Write comment

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Add Comment