Tornado Drills to Take Place Thursday

Golden Valley will take part in two tornado drills Thursday as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, the city announced.

The first drill takes place at 1:45 p.m. and is a statewide drill that gives hospitals, schools and businesses a chance to practice their emergency plans. The second takes place at 6:55 p.m. so that families and second-shift workers can practice their drills.

Outdoor warning sirens will sound during both drills. Most radio, TV and cable stations will broadcast a simulated tornado-warning message at 1:45 p.m. The warning should last a minute.

Alerts for both the simulated tornado watches and warnings will be issued over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios.

Minnesota has conducted a Severe Weather Awareness Week, in partnership with the National Weather Service and local governments, for more than 20 years, according to Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management.