Reminder: 2 Tornado Drills Scheduled for Thursday

Be alert Thursday afternoon and evening for the statewide tornado drills scheduled as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Schools and businesses are encouraged to practice emergency plans during the drill at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday. A second drill at 6:55 p.m. will take place in most counties to allow families and second-shift workers to practice sheltering plans, according to the Dakota County Sheriff's Office.

In Dakota County, the policy is to sound outdoor warning devices (sirens) when the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for cities in Dakota County. The sirens are a notification tool to advise residents to turn on a radio or TV to see where the storms are and determine their best course of action.

The sheriff's office advises having an emergency kit at home that all family members can access. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has created a guide, available by clicking here, to help you put together an emergency kit.

For more information about severe weather in Minnesota, on .