Today the National Weather Service issued a message to all Emergency Managers outlining the strong potential for severe weather in and around the Twin Cities area.
For fire and police this can mean a long stretch of responding to calls generated by the storms. Typical calls for the fire department range from downed power lines to structure fires caused by lightening strikes.
Some of the most self reliant people in our city are the spouses and children of our firefighters. While our firefighters are out responding to calls during the storms, spouses and children are left at home to fend for themselves. In my case, I have not had the experience of going to the basement to seek shelter from a storm’s fury with my family since I joined the department back in 1986.
In July of 1987 the “Super Storm” event passed through Eden Prairie and I was at the fire department for the entire evening and well into the early morning. While I miss spending those memorable events with my family, I believe it has given them the knowledge that they are capable of riding out severe weather by taking precautions and staying calm.
Tonight looks like another night when our spouses and children will be spending a little time alone during the predicted stormy weather.
