Rochester MN Emergency Management

05/16/2012

Where would you go? If a tornado strikes, where is the best place at home? Most important - AVOID WINDOWS. People are hurt by flying debris. Choose a sturdy place, like under a stairway, or an interior room. At my house, I have an interior bathroom (no windows) on the first floor, and I feel it is sturdy with more framing in a small area. My second option is under the stairway. With no basement, my options are limited, but we can get all three of us in each area.

When shopping, where is the best place? See KARE 11/MPR report on Storm Ready: http://www.kare11.com/news/article/976284/396/Storm-Ready-What-businesses-have-done-to-prepare-for-a-major-storm

"Only certain businesses, such as those with chemicals or hazardous waste onsite, are required to have a disaster plan in place. Yet, no businesses are required in Minnesota to submit a disaster plan to the state," said James Honerman, spokesperson with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry...

05/15/2012

Tornado Safety: In the car

Where is the best place to seek shelter when driving down the road? MPR and KARE teamed to provide a great series of reports on tornadoes and tornado safety. Are you stuck in traffic, or can't escape the path of a tornado? According to the report, the best place to shelter on the road may be in your car:

�Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.
�If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
Read the full story: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/10/storm-ready-stuck-in-traffic/

You're stuck in Minneapolis rush hour traffic on Interstate 94, near the Lowry Hill Tunnel. A thunderstorm spins out a tornado nearby. What can you do? Not much. You're now among the most vulnerable people in a tornado. There are no good options.

05/10/2012

Take time today to discuss with family, friends, neighbors the best place to shelter in a tornado. The greatest danger is from flying debris, so the first step is to get inside. Once inside, some places are safer than others. In the next few days, I'll talk about safe spots at home, at work, in mobile homes, and at church or other public places. If you want to see the whole list, go to http://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/emergencymanagement/weathersafety/tornado.asp

Official website for the city of Rochester, MN

05/09/2012

Photos of funnel clouds and wall clouds - hard to tell difference with still photo

05/07/2012

Tornado - Sighting a Funnel Cloud

We all know the shape of a "classic" tornado. If it does not appear to move left or right, assume it is coming directly at you. Don't delay. Seek shelter immediately.

What does a new - just forming - tornado look like? National Weather Service holds Skywarn training. During one training session, the meteorologist told us to look for "organized rotation" of clouds - meaning everything is moving in the same direction.

A "scud cloud" will have some features of a tornado - but, usually the cloud movement is slower, and disorganized. Bottom line...seek shelter. Better safe, than...

05/04/2012

Tornado - Signs of an Approaching Storm

Some tornadoes strike rapidly, without time for a tornado warning, and sometimes without a thunderstorm in the vicinity. When you are watching for rapidly emerging tornadoes, it is important to know that you cannot depend on seeing a funnel: clouds or rain may block your view. The following weather signs may mean that a tornado is approaching:

A dark or green-colored sky.
A large, dark, low-lying cloud.
Large hail.
A loud roar that sounds like a freight train.
If you notice any of these weather conditions, take cover immediately, and keep tuned to local radio and TV stations or to a NOAA weather radio.

12/07/2011

page for RochesterMN Emergency Management

12/06/2011

Rochester Alert is here! We are phasing out Nixle, and moving to our new system - Rochester Alert. It is not possible to move people from Nixle to Rochester Alert. Everyone has to sign up as a new subscriber. To enroll, go to https://users.alerts.rochestermn.gov/

05/05/2010

Stay Connected to the Information that Matters Most. Receive trusted public safety alerts directly from your Emergency Management Department by text message or e-mail. No cost, reliable and simple. Go to www.nixle.com to register.

Nixle provides communities throughout the country with news and information that is both proximate and personally relevant. Our technology is critical in creating new communication paths that have never existed before. We’ve set out to enable highly granular, location-specific information to be imme...

04/23/2010