Statewide tornado drills planned for afternoon, evening

Tornado sirens are set to go off Thursday afternoon and evening in Wisconsin and Minnesota, as part of the annual drills during Severe Weather Awareness Week.  

Sirens are scheduled for 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. in both states.

According to Minnesota’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the early one is intended as a drill for institutions and businesses. The evening one is for second shift workers and families.  

Some of the goals on the Wisconsin Emergency Management website say the drills encourage people to make a plan in case of a tornado, know where shelters are located, having multiple ways to receive weather alerts, and creating a home emergency kit. 

If there is the possibility of severe weather Thursday, the tests would get postponed until Friday.

In Wisconsin, there were 45 tornadoes in the state according to the National Weather Service.  

Minnesota saw 41 based on figures from the Minnesota State Climatology Office.