Crime & Safety

Thursday Warning Sirens to Prepare Apple Valley Residents for Severe Weather

April 11-15 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota, and Apple Valley will test its sirens twice on Thursday.

Apple Valley's nine outdoor warning sirens will sound at 1:45 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. Thursday, and residents and business employees are encouraged to practice taking shelter to prepare for the season's severe weather, according to an Apple Valley Police Department news release.

April 11-15 is Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week, as designated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Apple Valley Police Chief Scott Johnson said in the release that tornadoes cause 70 deaths on average each year, but tornadoes aren't the only kind of severe weather that might warrant taking shelter.

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Severe thunderstorms can produce strong winds and cause damage, so warning sirens in Dakota County will also sound during a severe thunderstorm warning, as well, he said in the release.

It's ideal to take shelter in the lowest level of a building away from windows when the sirens sound; also make sure to have a battery-operated radio and flashlight, Johnson said in the release.

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While early spring typically is flood season in Minnesota, tornadoes have happened during this time of year.

Last year, between March and September, 113 tornadoes occurred in Minnesota—the most in the United States—according to a news release from the Dakota County Sheriff's office. Forty-eight of those happened on one day in June.

In 1998, 13 tornadoes occurred in late March, and in May 2008 a tornado hit Hugo and killed a child and damaged more than 150 buildings, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

The Sheriff's office suggests families put together an emergency kit, and suggests visiting the Ready America website for a checklist.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.