Don't mess with Mother Nature: Heed warnings

This week is National Severe Weather Awareness Week, and a local disaster management planner wants to get word out about the importance of heeding severe weather warnings.

"When the National Weather Service puts out a severe weather or tornado warning, they try to give people as much time as possible so they can take shelter," Gary Junge, Plymouth County disaster services director said. "They are making improvements as far as getting the warnings out about 15-20 minutes ahead of time."

If the sirens sound but no severe weather hits within five minutes, don't assume the danger is past, Junge said.

"The siren doesn't mean that everybody has tornadoes touching down," he explained. "It means the situation is there. There's movement in the system. They're seeing things in the upper part of the cell. That cell could produce a tornado in that area at any given time."

His advice is to stay in shelter until you hear the threat is past on the radio or TV.

Today's technology and updates from the National Weather Service and local storm spotters make for fast and up-to-the-moment weather announcements, Junge said.

All of Plymouth County's communities are equipped with a weather siren.

Each community decides the specifics of when the siren is sounded for warnings, Junge said. Usually each city council decides and informs the Plymouth County Communications Center, he said.

Le Mars siren tests began this week and will continue through the season at about noon on the first Monday of the month.

Junge works to promote awareness so emergency situations can be avoided.

"Be aware of the conditions," he said. "And when warnings are put out, heed them."