Severe Weather Awareness

Polk County Emergency Management Director Jody Beauchane joined Polk County Sheriff James Tadman this week on Food For Thought to talk about Severe Weather Awareness. To prepare for severe storms, Beauchane recommends having an emergency plan and practicing it with your family as well as stocking up on emergency supplies.

According to the National Weather Service, Minnesota experiences an average of 29​ tornadoes per year. A record was set in 2010 with 113 tornadoes touching down across the state. Knowing what to do when a tornado is approaching can save lives.

Polk County Emergency Management, in conjunction with local Fire Departments and the National Weather Service, will provide a program called SKYWARN Training (also referred to as Storm Spotter). The local trainings will be held from 6pm-8:30pm at the following locations:
April 18th – Embassy Community Center, Fosston, MN
April 19th – Knutson Community Center, Fertile, MN
April 20th – Kiehl Auditorium, UMC, Crookston, MN

Training Schedule for each location: 6:00-7:15pm Basic training
7:15-8:30pm Advanced training

This SkyWarn Spotter Class is designed as both an informational class for the general public and certification training for the serious SkyWarn Spotter. The class lasts approximately 2 ½ hours and covers, in basic terms, what severe weather is, how it develops and how severe storms generally behave.

For more information contact Polk County Emergency Management at 218-470-8263, visit their website at www.co.polk.mn.us/EM or email jody.beauchane@co.polk.mn.us