Emergency Management

Emergency Managment Director has updated the Cass County Emergency Operations plan and works closely with emergency service providers and groups throughout the county and works with state and federal government agencies in numerous capacities.

Personnel

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK April 20th-24th

The Severe Weather Awareness Week is upon us again, this week is dedicated to help us all learn and prepare for upcoming weather hazards, and to help provide information on available resources to minimize the risks associated with severe weather. Thunderstorms, hail, straight line winds and heat waves cause extensive damage in Minnesota every year.

The annual toll from hail alone is about $1 billion nationally. High temperatures can quickly cause heat exhaustion, especially in children and the elderly. Lightning kills and injures more people than any other summer weather threat! 47 lightning fires took place in Minnesota in 2007, damaging homes and other business structures, resulting in damages of about $2.3 million.

On Thursday April 23rd Cass County will be participating in two Tornado drills. The first drill will be statewide at 1:45 p.m. to allow schools, business, hospitals and other health care facilities to practice their emergency plans. The 2nd drill is at 6:55 p.m., which for the first time Cass County will also participate and is being done to allow all of us as families, and also second shift business workers to practice our emergency plans.

During this week the National Weather Service will also be testing Emergency Alert Systems and NOAA all hazards weather radio.

In conjunction with the Severe Weather Awareness Week we will also be offering a Sky Warn Weather Spotters Class at the Walker High School at 6:30 p.m. on April 22nd. This is a class offered to anyone that would like to become a spotter and be an extra pair of eyes to help with what is happening in our area with severe weather and notifying the National Weather service. Again, this class is open to anyone that is interested in the weather.

Here are a couple of weather related websites with a lot of great information and resources please check them out and if you have any questions or you would like to register for the Weather Spotters class please give me a call.

Severe Weather or Resolve To Be Ready!

Kerry Swenson
Cass County Emergency Management
218-547-7437

Other contacts

Minnesota Division of Emergency Management

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

American Red Cross

Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota DNR-Forestry Division

National Weather Service-Duluth

Minnesota Office of Homeland Security

Central Minnesota EMS Region

UPCOMING EVENTS

Winter Hazard Awareness Week

As we all know, winter is quickly approaching and it is time for us to begin preparing ourselves, our homes and our cars. Our part of Minnesota is rich with stories and tales about winters past. We have all heard the story of grandpa walking to school and home again through 3 feet of blinding snow - and as we all know it was uphill both ways.

November 10th thru November 14th is Winter Hazard Awareness Week in Minnesota. Every year the National Weather Service and the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security promote winter safety and individual preparedness. Individual preparedness means each one of us needs to take time and prepare our homes, cars, and work place.

Winter weather can be a killer in Minnesota - literally. Each year residents of our state, and even our county, suffer injuries or death because they are unaware or unprepared for the dangers of a Minnesota Winter. Winter Hazard Awareness Week is about helping all of us adults to live work and play safely and to teach our children to protect themselves.

Many people enjoy being out in the winter weather and others are out in it because they have to be - either way, here are a few basic tips for winter weather safety:

Winter Weather
- Keep ahead of winter weather by listening for latest weather statements, watches and warnings.
- Your vehicle should always be ready. Get it winterized before the cold weather hits.
- Always be ready for the worst. Carry a winter survival kit in your car, especially when traveling in our rural areas, or open areas. When possible travel with others.

Driving Tips
- Always yield to snowplows, and be sure to leave plenty of room for them to operate.
- If you become stranded with your vehicle, stay with it until help arrives.
- Do not try to walk for help during a blizzard: you could become lost in the whiteout conditions.

Outdoor Activities
- If you have to be outside during winter storms or extreme cold, dress in layers and avoid over exertion.
- Do not kill yourself shoveling snow. Shoveling is hard work and may induce a heart attack.
- If you are going snowmobiling, avoid alcohol. Most snowmobile deaths are alcohol related. Think about taking a snowmobile safety course offered by the many local snowmobile clubs or check with DNR to find one available in area.

Home Heating Safety
- Heating fires are a major cause of residential fires in the country. Be sure to turn off any portable heating device when you are not at home or when you go to bed for the night. Have your fireplace and chimney inspected before winter. Carbon monoxide is more likely to build up in homes during winter months. Be sure to have your heating system professionally checked, to be sure it is properly ventilated and operating correctly and efficiently. Be sure to install a UL-Listed carbon monoxide alarm in your home.

If you would like further winter safety information or tips, visit Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Website at: Winter Weather or contact Kerry Swenson Cass County Emergency Management at 218-547-7437