Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week: Eddy County Tornado Drill

April 24-28 is Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week in North Dakota.

The annual Statewide Tornado Drill is set for Wednesday, April 26 at 11 a.m. All across the state, including in New Rockford and Sheyenne, sirens will sound to remind residents to make a plan and seek shelter when the threat of a tornado looms.

Beyond tornadoes, this year the Transcript’s educational focus is on lightning and severe thunderstorms.

According to the National Weather Service, lightning can strike as far as 15 miles from any rain falling with a thunderstorm. If you are outside and can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck!

Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims survive, they often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms.

Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that include lightning and can create or cause:

• Powerful winds over 50 mph

• Hail

• Flash flooding and/or tornadoes

If you are under a thunderstorm warning:

• Move from outdoors into a building or car with a roof.

• Pay attention to alerts and warnings.

• Avoid using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet.

• Avoid running water.

• Turn around. Don’t drown! Do not drive through flooded roadways. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

For more severe weather safety tips, go to ready.gov.