PIERRE - Next week is an opportunity for South Dakotans to start preparing for severe weather that may occur this spring and summer.
April 25-29 has been designated as Severe Weather Awareness Week in South Dakota. It is the annual week where citizens are urged to start preparing for the eventual severe weather that happens every spring and summer.
"Severe weather happens; that is a fact," says Department of Public Safety Secretary Trevor Jones. "We saw it last year with the tornado that touched down in Delmont and later with storms that did major property damage throughout most of South Dakota."
State and local officials will spend the week encouraging people to start making preparations now. Several counties throughout the week are holding severe weather preparedness meetings for their weather spotters and the public.
"The key with severe weather is knowing what to do when it happens," says Secretary Jones. "Families especially should talk about what to do in times of severe weather."
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A statewide tornado drill will be held April 27. The test watch is scheduled for 10 a.m. CDT with the warning issued at 10:15 a.m. CDT. A statement announcing that the test is over will be issued at 10:30 a.m. CDT.
In most communities on Wednesday, severe weather sirens will be sounded. People are reminded that it is only a test unless otherwise announced.
For more information on how to be ready for severe weather, click onto the Office of Emergency Management's new Severe Weather Preparedness Guide at
The" target="_blank">dps.sd.gov/emergency_services/emergency_management/documents/2016_Severe_Weather_Guide.pdf
The Office of Emergency Management is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
