Floods – April 10th, 2024

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. For extensive information, resources and data about flooding in the U.S. from the National Weather Service (NWS) visit the NWS Flood Safety website.

Your Safe Place from Flooding picture




Severe Storms, Lightning, and Hail – April 9th, 2024

Thunderstorm Winds

Thunderstorms can produce straight-line winds that exceed 100 miles per hour. For this reason you should treat severe thunderstorms just as you would tornadoes. Move to an appropriate shelter if you are in the path of the storm. The strong rush of wind from a thunderstorm is called a downburst. The primary cause is rain-cooled air that accelerates downward, producing potentially damaging gusts of wind. Strong downbursts can be mistaken for tornadoes, and they’re often accompanied by a roaring sound similar to that of a tornado. Downbursts can easily overturn mobile homes, tear roofs off houses and topple trees. Campers are especially vulnerable because trees can fall into campsites and onto tents. NWS Guidebook on Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Lightning Damage from severe wind accounts for half of all weather damage reports in the lower 48 states and is more common than damage from tornadoes. These winds are often called “straight-line” winds to differentiate their damage from tornado damage. Damaging winds are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph. More information about damaging winds from the National Weather Service. Threat definitions of damaging winds (National Severe Storms Laboratory)

Hail

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 hail stones fall faster than 100 mph and have been known to kill people. More information about hail.

Lightning

Every thunderstorm produces lightning! Lightning kills an average of 27 Americans each year. Hundreds more are severely injured.

Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year. Lightning kills 20 or more people in the United States each year, and hundreds more are severely injured. 

Lightning Safety Tips

  • NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!
  • If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
  • When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
  • Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety

  • 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 walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips

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.)

For more information about lightning safety, please visit the National Weather Service Lightning Safety webpage.

Lightning Safety for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community

We all know that “When thunder roars, go indoors.” But what if you can’t hear the thunder? That’s why meteorologists created a new slogan that would be more inclusive of the deaf and hard of hearing community. As a result, “See a flash, dash inside” is now used in conjunction with the original slogan above.

View this public service announcement on lightning safety for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Boat on the lake




Compost Bin Sale

Starting on April 29th, a limited number of backyard composting bins will be available for purchase at the Todd County Transfer Station. Compost bins come in two halves that fit in most vehicles, measure 33”x30” when assembled, and can hold 17 cu ft of compost. The bins will be sold at a reduced cost of $40, no advance reservations or sales.

Date: April 29th

Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

FAQ

Do I have to be a resident of Todd County to get a bin?

Yes, or you must reside in Todd County at least part of the year, for example, during the summer months.

Will the bin fit in my small car?

Yes, these bins have two sides, a lid, and two ‘doors’ that you assemble when you get it home. They should fit in most small cars or a small two door with the back seat down.

What if I don’t have access to an outdoor space but I want to compost?

At this time only backyard compost bins are available. If you live in an apartment, worm composting may work for you, but is not part of this sale.

What if I can’t make it to the designated time or location?

You may ask another individual to buy you a bin. There may be bins leftover, call ahead to check availability. NO reservations or advance sales will be allowed.

I’ve tried composting before and it didn’t go well, is this for me?

Yes! Many first-time composters struggle with common issues that are fairly easy to diagnose and correct. Troubleshooting and best practices will be covered in the Composting 101 training offered in partnership with the sale. We will also cover expectations of what composting is and isn’t.

Are you selling a kitchen compost pail for collecting scraps?

This sale does not include a kitchen pail. You are encouraged to find a container that works for you – compost pails of many kinds can be purchased online, but an ice cream pail or old ice bucket with a lid works just as well. Shop your local thrift store or reuse an existing small pail with a lid to save money and reuse instead of buying something new.

Will my compost bin or kitchen pail smell?

At times, yes, a little. But this can be kept to a minimum if you use best practices. We never notice smell from our backyard bin unless it is when we are actively mixing it. Your pail can be washed in the dishwasher or soaked with soapy water to clean it. You can also keep your pail – or any other compost collecting container of choice such as an ice cream pail or large plastic bag – in the freezer or fridge to ensure you don’t have smell or fruit flies.

I am worried about wildlife being attracted by my compost bin, will this happen?

Animals are attracted to food waste that is exposed, and certain kinds of food waste such as meat. As long as you use best practices, you should not experience problems with this. Also, wildlife such as squirrels or mice may want to be near your compost bin or a leaf pile. Although some people become concerned by this, they should be much more concerned about huge amounts of food waste sitting in landfills forever than small critters eating a few scraps. Using a bin with a lid will help prevent pests and covering the bottom of your bin with metal mesh or fine chicken wire can prevent pests from entering on the bottom.

Will my compost bin attract flies?

Yes, flies are one of nature’s decomposers. It is normal and natural to find decomposers such as flies, fruit flies, mold, pill bugs, and other friendly creepy crawlies in your compost pile – that is their job! Composting is not a bug-free process, just as decomposition happening in nature is facilitated by many decomposers, so is composting!

Can I compost pet waste?

It depends. Animal waste and wood shavings/natural bedding from rabbits, gerbils, goats, or similar can be added to your compost bin. Dog waste can be composted, but in a separate container from food waste, and the compost should not be used on plants that grow food. Cat waste and litter should NOT be composted due to possible pathogens.




2020 Severe Weather Awareness Week – Final Day

Today’s Severe Weather Awareness Week theme is “Heat.” Believe it or not, heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the United States, and on average, 130 people die each year and countless more hospitalized as a result of it.

Extreme Heat Resources

One more question before
we wrap up Severe Weather Awareness Week. Have you tried
our forecast widget on your mobile phone? You can get it by going through these
steps:

1) Go to mobile.weather.govin a browser on
your mobile phone. 

2) Enter your location
in the box

3) Click “Add to
Home Screen” or save it in a browser window




2020 Severe Weather Awareness Week – Day 1

Today is the first day of Severe Weather
Awareness Week, and the theme is “Alerts and Warnings.”  

Have you signed up for Todd County CodeRED to
get weather alerts? Signup here

Watch means “be
prepared, severe weather is possible,” and a Warning means
“take action, severe weather is expected or occurring.”  For more
info click on the links below, and please share the attached resources
with your coworkers, friends, and family.

Don’t forget, Thursday is Tornado Drill
Day
, when you have the opportunity to practice tornado drills and
sheltering plans.

The
Difference between a WATCH & a WARNING
 (Video)

 Ways to Get Warnings
(Video)

 Wireless Emergency Alert Video in English  

 Wireless Emergency Alert Video in Spanish  

Creating Your
Emergency Communication Plan (for the workplace & home)

Emergency Alerts




Historic Courthouse Public Notice

Todd
County Historic Courthouse building will be closed to the public on
Wednesday March 13, 2019 from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM, for staff training.
This will affect all persons wanting to visit the Todd County
Commissioners, Administration, Recorders, Auditors/Treasure, Assessors,
Soil and Water, Extension and Planning and Zoning offices.  All
Commissioners will be present, county business will not be conducted in
the Historic Courthouse.

Todd County Historic Courthouse building will open at regular business hours Thursday March 14, 2019.