Moorhead Takes Part In ‘Severe Weather Awareness Week’

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Minnesota officials want you prepared for the upcoming tornado season.

“Severe Weather Awareness Week” is your chance to learn how to stay safe should one touchdown.

Growing up, Andrew Thorson used to visit his grandfather’s farm.

The Moorhead man recalls the one day he saw an actual tornado.

Andrew Thorson says, “I just remember you could kind of see the funnel cloud. It was loud and made a mess.”

Years later, he has a plan to help keep his family safe.

The Moorhead resident says, “We just keep a spot under our steps in the basement clear so we got somewhere to go if we need to.”

Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Moorhead Police host “Severe Weather Awareness Week” helping residents educate themselves on lightning, hail, floods, extreme heat and tornados.

Emergency Management Director Lt. Bryan Green says, “People need to get aware. I know your daily lives are busy. You’re going from one thing to the next but you have to be ready. Make a plan. And how do you get notified?”

The City of Moorhead recommends you sign up for CodeRED.

It’s a system that notifies you of emergency situations, critical community alerts, severe thunderstorm warnings, flash flood warnings or tornado warnings when issued by the National Weather Service.

The energy for tornadoes is born in the Gulf of Mexico and then the air sweeps north to meet the cold air in Canada.

MSUM Earth Science Professor Russ Colson says, “It’s not just cold and warm air meeting in a fight. It is related to that rising air. It’s related to moisture and it’s also related to dry air. It’s very unique and unusual circumstances that produce a tornado. But if you do get into one, you want to get down, get into coverts and get into a sheltered place.”

Thorson has seen what tornadoes are capable of and believes this is an opportunity for all.

Thorson adds, “Awareness on any risk is probably beneficial to everybody.”

All Minnesota schools and local agencies will review and practice their emergencies procedures.

The statewide tornado drill day is Thursday at 1:45 and 6:55.