JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Severe summer storms can cause damaging winds, hail, tornadoes, wildfires, flash flooding, and more.
This brings potential to cause serious property damage, injury, and even death.
As the summer approaches, the potential for these severe weather conditions are brought into focus with Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week, running from April 26th through the 30th.
Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist says while the county deals with drought and dry conditions, the first work of incoming Emergency Manager Andrew Kirking and Assistant Riley Schafer was declaring a fire emergency in accordance with the statewide emergency declared by Governor Doug Burgum.
Bergquist says the week encourages new and current residents to study up and prepare for any of the different weather events North Dakota an get over the summer.
Another part of the preparedness for the county includes testing tornado sirens. Bergquist says they will conduct siren tests at around 11:15 AM Wednesday, April 28th. This will activate sirens in Jamestown, Buchanan, Cleveland, Medina, and Streeter to ensure they are working correctly.
Because the National Weather Service will not directly be involved with the exercise, the simulated warning will not be broadcast through the National Weather Service all-hazards weather radio system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) for local AM/FM radio stations and cable television providers will not be activated.
The Stutsman Alert’s notification system powered by Everbridge will also not be activated for this test.
“The most common reason a community’s warning sirens are activated is to warn the public of a possible tornado,” Bergquist added. “However, sirens could also be activated to alert the public of other types of events that could be a danger to the community.”
Listen to a full Let’s Talk About It with Jerry Bergquist, Andrew Kirking, and Riley Schafer below: