In today’s stories, the state is looking for feedback as part of Pride month. Then, when the tornado siren sounds, do you know what to do? And a national park in Northern Minnesota gets a new visitor center.
Transcript
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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: In today's stories, the state is looking for feedback as part of Pride month. Then, when the tornado siren sounds, do you know what to do? And a national park in Northern Minnesota gets a new visitor center.
I'm Gracie J.
The state is looking for feedback from the L-G-B-T-Q-I-A-2-S Plus community. The council on L-G-B-T-Q-I-A-2-S-Plus serves citizens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and or two-spirit. The goal of the organization is to ensure the state provides economic, social, legal, and political equity. The organization is conducting a statewide survey. The answers help to direct the state's funding and resources. The survey is confidential and open through June 30th. It's available online through the agency's website.
Next, tornado season is ongoing in Minnesota, but are you familiar with tornado safety? Reporter Jamad Jama explores tornado terminology, common safety misconceptions, and why understanding tornado safety is so important.
Jamad Jama: Outdoor warning sirens, often referred to as tornado sirens, are a familiar sound throughout Minnesota, but do you actually know what the sirens mean or how to stay safe? Understanding the differences between a tornado watch versus a warning, knowing when to take shelter and keeping track of dangerous weather, are all key parts of tornado safety.
Todd Krause: Being aware of the potential for severe weather is probably the most important thing, because then once you know of that potential, you'll be that much more prepared.
Jamad Jama: Warning Coordination Meteorologist Todd Krause tracks potentially dangerous weather patterns at the National Weather Station in Chanhassen.
Todd Krause: There are six weather offices that cover all of Minnesota, and so each weather office has a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, and our role is to work with others on all sorts of plans and procedures with regard to storm warnings, weather safety and so on.
Jamad Jama: Understanding tornado safety starts with knowing the terminology, so you know what to do if a storm hits.
Todd Krause: Sometimes people can think of it in regards to food with a watch, the ingredients are there. It's possible to get a tornado, but it doesn't mean you're actually getting one. And once you put them together and things are made, that's the warning.
Jamad Jama: There's often confusion as to what the sirens actually mean. So let's clear that up before diving into the details.
Todd Krause: The sirens will typically go off for any tornado warning that we issue, or if there is severe straight-line wind of 80 miles per hour. That's enough to take down trees and start causing damage to buildings. And so the sirens really just tell you, check out, get more information.
Jamad Jama: Knowing that there's a threat is important. But how do you actually stay safe when a tornado warning has been issued, and the sirens go off?
Todd Krause: Be inside and away from windows and on the lowest level possible. So if you're in an office building, you know, getting away from windows, maybe in a stairwell. And that's true if you're at home or in a cabin or wherever. If you are out walking or jogging or something like that, get to a place of safety, some house nearby, perhaps, or some building nearby, being in some interior room away from windows.
Jamad Jama: According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, June is historically the month in which the most tornadoes occur and they can form quickly. Experts like Todd recommend staying safe by having multiple ways to track weather, such as a weather radio and downloading a mobile weather app. All Minnesotans can keep track of conditions near them on weather.gov For North Star Stories, I'm Jamad Jama.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
Voyageurs National Park has a new visitor center. Voyageurs is Minnesota's only national park and is located along the Canadian border. Funding for the project, which includes a new campground, comes from a community-led effort by Crane Lake Township. Inside, visitors will find displays on regional indigenous history and cultural stories. The grand opening of the visitor center is part of the celebrations for Voyageur's 50th anniversary.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.