Heed the warnings

Given the storm that ripped through Ignace yesterday morning, not to mention the devastating tornadoes that tore across southwestern Manitoba this past weekend, every effort to offer communities better early warning of severe weather is critical.
Fort Frances town council took a step in that direction Monday night by approving a 10-year agreement with the Ministry of the Environment that will see a weather station built at the airport here, perhaps as early as August.
It will be equipped with sensors that provide “real time” data—24 hours a day, seven days a week—which local emergency management officials, as well as radio and TV stations, can access to help warn residents that severe weather is imminent.
Currently, the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service activates the emergency warning sirens if a tornado warning is issued for the area, as happened just three weeks ago when a funnel cloud was sighted south of International Falls.
The addition of the weather station is another tool to enhance and improve that system.
But while the town is taking steps to better protect us, residents have to do their part, too. In a nutshell, you have to heed the warnings.
That certainly didn’t seem to be the case when the sirens wailed on that Thursday afternoon, as most businesses remained open and the majority of people—though perhaps casting a wary eye on the sky—simply carried on with their day.
In this case, the threat didn’t materialize. The next time, we might not be so lucky.
Severe weather does happen here. Take the time to learn tornado safety tips. Plan where you’d take shelter whether you’re at home, at work, at school, or at the cabin.
And most important, don’t shrug off the warning sirens as just another “false alarm,” or a reason to run outside to gawk. Be prepared to take immediate cover whenever they are activated—and stay there until the danger has passed.