Severe Weather Safety
If the ISD 728 schools are to be closed (early dismissal) because of storms or other emergencies, the ISD 728’s school cancellation announcements will be communicated in the following methods:
ParentLink: All parents/guardians who have telephone numbers listed with the school district will receive a pre-recorded call at the primary number on file only.
Campus Messenger: All parents/guardians who have an email on file will receive a message at the primary address on file only.
Websites: All district and school websites are updated.
TV/radio news stations: The ISD 728’s school cancellation announcements will be on WCCO Channel 4, WCCO 830 AM, KSTP TV Channels, KARE TV Channel 11, KMSP/FOX Channel 9 and provided to WQPM radio (106 FM or 1300 AM), and BOB FM radio.
District phone message: The district’s pre-recorded message is updated.
Announcements will also be posted on the front page of the District’s Website: www.isd728.org, Facebook, Twitter and recorded on the district’s main phone greeting at (763) 241-3400.
Students will be transported to their regular bus stop or as close to home as possible, depending on conditions and circumstances. During extremely bad weather, parents should listen for these broadcasts to insure the child's safety from bus to home. Each family should have an emergency plan (see link to create a plan at bottom of this webpage) which a child can follow if an early dismissal occurs (key left at the neighbor’s house, go to the neighbor’s house, etc.).
Tornado
Minnesota lies along the north edge of the region of maximum tornado occurrence in the United States. often referred to as Tornado Alley.
In Minnesota, tornadoes have occurred in every month from March through November. The earliest reported tornadoes in Minnesota were the three tornadoes that touched down on March 6, 2017. The next earliest verified tornado in Minnesota occurred on March 18, 1968, north of Truman in Martin County. The latest reported tornadoes in Minnesota were on December 15, 2021. The previous latest confirmed tornado was on November 16, 1931, east of Maple Plain. Historically and statistically, June is the month of greatest frequency with July not far behind. May has the third greatest frequency, followed closely by August. Nearly three-quarters of all tornadoes in Minnesota have occurred during the three months of May (15%), June (37%), and July (25%).
The most probable danger period in Minnesota, therefore, is late spring and early summer, between 2:00 PM and 9:00 PM. However, tornadoes can and do occur at any time of the day or night.
-Excerpt from MN DNR State Climatology Office
Preparing for a Tornado Event
tornado-information-sheet.pdfWhat to do During a Tornado Depending on Your Location
Tornado Safety SWAW 2015.pdfISD 728 Tornado Response Procedures
(Actual Weather Event)
Tornadoes/Severe Thunderstorms
The National Weather Service issues a tornado/severe thunderstorm watch when weather conditions are favorable for the formation of severe thunderstorms and/or tornadoes.
During a watch situation, the principal or designee should monitor the weather using the weather alert radios. In most cases, students should remain inside the building when a tornado/severe thunderstorm watch is issued during the school day.
A tornado/severe thunderstorm warning is issued by the National Weather Service when a severe thunderstorm and/or tornado has developed and been spotted in the area. The following steps should be followed when a tornado/severe thunderstorm warning is issued during the school day:
The principal will announce the severe weather warning and direct staff and students to move to designated shelter areas. If possible, the principal or designee will keep in contact with Law Enforcement or the fire department for further weather updates.
Staff will move students to designated shelter areas. Teachers will leave the classroom last, closing the classroom door behind them. Teachers will bring class rosters and, once in shelter areas, take attendance and report any missing students to the principal or designee via email, radio or, when safe to do so, in person.
Staff will ensure that students are in the drop and tuck position.
Staff and students who are outdoors will return to the building and move to nearest designated shelter area.
Students and staff will remain in the shelter area until the principal or designee issues an all clear.
The principal or designee will contact the district office at 763-241-3400 or x1200. If no answer, use the portable radio to call the district on Channel 10 DW Emergency Channel. This will initiate a response from the district office.
Thunderstorms and Lightning
Thunderstorms affect relatively small areas, compared with most other storms. The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts for 30 minutes — but whatever their size, all thunderstorms are dangerous.
Severe thunderstorms produce large hail or winds of at least 58 mph. Some wind gusts can exceed 100 mph and produce tornado-like damage. That’s why many communities will sound their outdoor sirens for damaging straight-line winds.
Every thunderstorm produces lightning! If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
Hail is product of thunderstorms that causes nearly $1 billion in damage every year. Most hail is about pea-sized. Much of it is the size of baseballs, and it can reach grapefruit-size. Large hailstones fall faster than 100 mph and have been known to kill people.
-Excerpt from Homeland Security and Emergency Management, A Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Preparing for a Thunderstorm, Lightning, or Hail Event
thunderstorm-information-sheet.pdfWhat to do During a Thunderstorm/Lightning Event
The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes. Fortunately, thunderstorms typically do not last very long and will most often pass by your location in less than one hour.
Once in a shelter, stay away from windows and avoid electrical equipment and plumbing. Remember to bring pets inside. If there is time, secure loose objects outside as these objects often become dangerous flying debris in high winds. Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity. Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete wall
Postpone outdoor activities until the storms have passed.
If caught outside, take shelter in a sturdy enclosed building or hard top automobile immediately. Avoid open spaces, isolated objects, high ground and metallic objects.
Get out of boats and away from bodies of water. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.
If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:
Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
Never lie flat on the ground
Never shelter under an isolated tree
Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)
ISD 728 Severe Thunderstorms Response Procedures
(Actual Weather Event)
Tornadoes/Severe Thunderstorms
The National Weather Service issues a tornado/severe thunderstorm watch when weather conditions are favorable for the formation of severe thunderstorms and/or tornadoes.
During a watch situation, the principal or designee should monitor the weather using the weather alert radios. In most cases, students should remain inside the building when a tornado/severe thunderstorm watch is issued during the school day.
A tornado/severe thunderstorm warning is issued by the National Weather Service when a severe thunderstorm and/or tornado has developed and been spotted in the area. The following steps should be followed when a tornado/severe thunderstorm warning is issued during the school day:
The principal will announce the severe weather warning and direct staff and students to move to designated shelter areas. If possible, the principal or designee will keep in contact with Law Enforcement or the fire department for further weather updates.
Staff will move students to designated shelter areas.Teachers will leave the classroom last, closing the classroom door behind them. Teachers will bring class rosters and, once in shelter areas, take attendance and report any missing students to the principal or designee via email, radio or, when safe to do so, in person.
Staff will ensure that students are in the drop and tuck position.
Staff and students who are outdoors will return to the building and move to nearest designated shelter area.
Students and staff will remain in the shelter area until the principal or designee issues an all clear.
The principal or designee will contact the district office at 763-241-3400 or x1200. If no answer, use the portable radio to call the district on Channel 10 DW Emergency Channel. This will initiate a response from the district office.
Flood
Nationally, floods claim nearly 200 lives each year, force 300,000 people from their homes, and result in property damage in excess of $2 billion. In 2019, six out of the nine state and federally-declared disasters in Minnesota involved some sort of flooding.
About 75 percent of flash-flood deaths occur at night. Half of the victims die in automobiles or other vehicles. Many deaths occur when people drive around road barricades that clearly indicate that the road is washed out ahead.
-Excerpt from Homeland Security and Emergency Management, A Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Flood Safety
Flood.pdfWhat to do During a Flooding Event
How to Stay Safe Indoors:
Turn off the power and water mains if instructed to do so by local authorities.
Boil tap water until water sources have been declared safe.
Avoid contact with floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage or contain dangerous insects or animals.
Continue listening to local area radio, NOAA radio or TV stations for the latest information and updates.
Don’t use gas or electrical appliances that have been flooded.
Dispose of any food that comes into contact with flood water.
How to Stay Safe Outdoors:
Don't walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Just six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you over and two feet will float a car.
If caught on a flooded road with rapidly rising waters, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground.
Don't walk on beaches or riverbanks.
Don’t allow children to play in or near flood water.
Avoid contact with floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage or contain dangerous insects or animals.
Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Underpasses, dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc. can become filled with water.
ISD 728 Flood Response Procedures
(Actual Weather Event)
Flooding/Evacuation
If a flood watch has been issued for the area, the principal or designee will monitor weather conditions by using weather alert radios or by contacting local emergency management officials. The principal or designee will inform staff of potential flooding emergency, review evacuation procedures and make contact with the District Office for guidance.
If a flood warning has been issued, flooding is imminent. If advised by local emergency management and District Office officials to evacuate, the principal will initiate evacuation procedures immediately.
Extreme Temperatures
Extreme Cold- At some point every winter, temperatures in Minnesota drop below zero. Adding even a small wind can drive the wind chill effect down to dangerous levels for anyone exposed to it for very long. The best way to avoid any danger is to stay indoors, but if you do feel the need to venture outdoors, make sure to take proper precautions and know how to spot the signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Extreme Heat- According to the Department of Health (MDH), between 2000 to 2016, 54 deaths were directly attributable to extreme heat in Minnesota. On July 19, 2011, an all-time heat index record was set in Minnesota. The air temperatures was 93 degrees Fahrenheit and the heat index reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit in Moorhead.
-Excerpt from Homeland Security and Emergency Management, A Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Cold Weather Safety
WinterStorms.pdfhypothermia-frostbite_508.pdfHot Weather Safety
beat-the-heat-2017.pdf.pdfavoid-spot-treat-heat.pdfISD 728 Weather Related Medical Emergency Response Procedures
The following steps should be followed when a student or employee is seriously injured or becomes seriously ill:
Notify the health office and school office to tell them of the incident and that 911 has been called.
Call 911; do not leave the victim unattended.
Secure the scene for safety and evacuate bystanders/others.
Administer appropriate first aid. The role of school staff in a medical emergency is to provide care to the victim until first responders arrive. Staff should NOT provide first aid beyond their training. Staff should comfort the victim and reassure him or her that medical attention is on the way. Do not move the victim unless an immediate emergency situation requires evacuation.
Designate a staff member (refer to school crisis team roles/responsibilities chart) to:
Meet the first responders/ambulance and escort medical responders to the victim.
Call parent/guardian to report situation.
If the victim is an employee, contact the employee’s supervisor to notify the employee’s emergency contact.
Contact District Office at 763-241-3400 or x1200 to report situation. If no answer, use the portable radio to call the district on Channel 10 DW Emergency. District support will be provided as needed.
Be Prepared for Emergencies. Accidents happen – but you can be ready to help yourself and your loved ones with this FREE app (Google Play or App Store).
The Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for common emergencies at your fingertips. Videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice makes learning easy and engaging. Select English or Spanish language with an in-app toggle.
Or text: "GETFIRST" to 90999
Family Emergency Disaster Planning
Helping Youth Cope With Disasters