Jerry BerquistJamestown (CSi) As part of the awareness week activities, the annual statewide tornado exercise will be conducted. This year, the exercise has been scheduled to begin at about 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, with a simulated tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service. In response to this simulated warning, a countywide exercise of the emergency operations plan will also take place. The plan is designed to warn the greatest number of people in the least amount of time.

The week of April 27 th thru May 1st, 2015, has been designated, “Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week,” for the entire state of North Dakota by Governor Jack Dalrymple. On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Stutsman County. Emergency Manager, Jerry Bergquist said, this week is an annual event designed to remind the public of the dangers associated with severe summer weather including: lightning, high winds, large hail, flash floods and tornadoes. All of which, can cause severe property damage, personal injury, and even death.

As part of the exercise, sirens will be activated in area communities including the City of Jamestown. In most communities, sirens will be activated for approximately 3 minutes. In addition, the simulated warning will be broadcast over the National Weather Service all-hazards weather radio system, local AM/FM radio stations and the CSi cable television interrupt system.

Bergquist pointed out that  during the summer, the most common reason a community’s warning sirens are activated is to warn the public of a possible tornado. However, the sirens could also be activated to alert the public of other types of events that could be a danger to the community. Hearing the sirens is the signal to tune into any of the local radio stations and to follow official instructions being broadcast.

Cable television subscribers will also be able to turn on their TV and hear official instructions being broadcast by either the National Weather Service or officials at the Law Enforcement Center.

On our show, Bergquist said the Jamestown area has seven outdoor sirens including the siren at the marina. Five are rotating and timed to sound for three minutes when activated and automatically shutdown.

He pointed out, that with Jamestown growing the city may need to add sirens in the southwest and eastern expansion areas.

On another topic, Bergquist reminded viewers that the CodeRed telephone alert system is available to residents in the Jamestown area. Those who have signed up will received the alerts they opted for. Otherwise if a phone subscriber adds, a cell phone number, or land line, they need to have it added to the CodeRed data base. Other alerts through the 9-1-1 telephone system will be sent through land line phones, without CodeRed signup.

Residents can sign up on the Stutsman County Website at no charge. If anyone has any questions on Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week, CODERed, or weather testing and information, you can contact the Stutsman County Emergency Management Office at (701)-252-9093. For more information on CODERed or to sign up, click here.