Stern warning to be ready for tornadoes

Don’t panic when civil defense sirens blow throughout the region later this week. It will all be part of a drill, but hopefully it will serve as a stern reminder to get ready for tornado and severe thunderstorm season.
This week is severe weather awareness week and tornado sirens will be activated on Thursday at 1:45 and 6:55 p.m. in an effort to get folks ready for the upcoming storm season. 
Are you ready for severe weather?
It’s a daunting thought that severe weather, especially tornadoes, could nail us. But as most of you know living in Minnesota brings its share of twisters and bad thunderstorms. 
One of the hardest assignments I’ve ever faced as a journalist came in June 2010 when I covered the tornado that smashed through parts of Steele and Freeborn counties. Families lost their homes in a matter of seconds. Sadly, three people lost their lives in Minnesota, including one in Freeborn County. But it could have been much, much worse.
Minnesota experiences an average of 40 tornadoes each summer. During the summer of 2010 when Steele was hit, a record of 104 tornadoes reeked havoc across the state. 
In Dodge County, the last tornado was in June 2013 when a twister briefly touched down west of West Concord. It was not on the ground long enough to produce any damage. In August 2010, a tornado struck the Hayfield area. 
The worst ever came in 1883 when a tornado created a large swath of destruction from Hayfield to Rochester. The massive tornado killed 37 people, including at least five in Dodge County. 
Understanding this threat and knowing what to do when a tornado is approaching can save lives. This week is a good time for everyone to review their family’s emergency procedures and prepare for weather-related hazards. 
Tornadoes are violent by nature. They are capable of destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. They are nothing to take lightly.