Provides weather-related warnings, observations, and forecasts. Information includes: - Current and archived weather information and advisories - Regional/local offices providing forecast and weather advisory information, Storm Spotters training, certification, volunteer opportunities, and coordination with emergency management - Skywarn program helps provide critical severe weather information from local organizations and private citizens to reach the NWS and local officials. Skywarn volunteers report information in real-time to their local officials and/or local NWS office. - Storm prediction center for future forecasts - Weather-related education and outreach including online publications with information on tornadoes, extreme heat, winter weather, fires, and floods. Publications are available on the website for download.

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

Provides the following emergency management services: - Disaster preparedness - Homeland security - Public safety - Safety education

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

Provides disaster preparedness, public safety, and safety education programs: - Coordinates the development and update of the county's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that addresses all natural or man-made hazards that may affect the citizens of Blue Earth County - Coordinates, develops, conducts, and evaluates various disaster Emergency Preparedness is a continuous cycle of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Elected and appointed officials all have important roles in the EOP.

Coordinates, initiates, develops, and implements pre-disaster programs, emergency support, and post-disaster recovery

Disaster Relief and Recovery - Responds to emergencies like fires, floods and severe storms. At every disaster, victims' needs are assessed and methods are taken to ensure they have clothing, financial assistance, food, health services, mental health assistance, temporary shelter/housing and other services to help them recover. - Find Open Shelters: If an emergency has forced an individual (with or without a service animal) to evacuate their home, the Red Cross may be able to help by providing shelter and services Contact Loved Ones - Family in the U.S.: Individuals can let loved ones know they are OK after a local disaster. Individuals can find someone they love who may have experienced a recent disaster. Clean Up and Recovery Guides - Staying Safe After a Disaster: Learn steps to take during and after most disasters or emergencies to help ensure safety - Check Home Safety: If an individual has had to evacuate, they can take steps to evaluate whether it is safe to enter when they are allowed to return home - Recovering Emotionally: Find out about special care individuals may need - Recovering Financially: Get information on how to manage the financial impact of disaster, from handling insurance claims to replacing documents that may have been lost - Emergency Resource Library: Tips and strategies for preparing, responding to and recovering from disasters and emergencies related to topics such as chemical emergency; COVID-19; drought; flood; flu; food safety; heat wave; highway safety; home fire; landslide; nuclear explosion and radiation; poisoning; power outage; terrorism; thunderstorm; tornado; water safety; wildfire; winter storm

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

- Disaster preparedness - Emergency management during a disaster - Emergency Operations Center - General disaster information - Severe weather safety information

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

- Emergency Operations Center - Disaster preparedness - Emergency management during a disaster - General disaster information - Safety alerts - Safety education programs - Severe weather safety information

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

Program develops and maintains a plan for a hazards approach to any natural, man-made, or technological (hazardous materials) emergency or catastrophic event. Staff coordinate responses and seek state and/or federal assistance if and when county resources are exhausted or the scope of the event exceeds local assistance capacity.

Office of the Chief: (651)266-5588 - City-Wide Services, (1829 Edgecumbe Road), (651)266-5585 - Civilian Review Commission: (651)266-5583 - Force Unit: (651)266-5712 - Forensic Services Unit: (651)266-5606 - Crime Lab - Latent print examination - Major crime scene processing? - Hate Crimes Reporting: (651)291-1111 - Inspection unit - Internal Affairs: (651)266-5760 - Property and Evidence: (651)266-5637 - Special Operations Unit: (651)266-5963 - Bike Cops for Kids Bike Truck and East Metro Agency Collaboration - Emergency Management: (651)266-5494; Fax (651)266-5493 - Event permit: Includes applications and approval process for all events that will impact city streets. Contact Saint Paul Parks and Recreation (651)266-6400 for all events held on park land. Visit website for permit application online. Patrol Districts - Patrol Operations: (651)266-5500 - Watch Commanders: (651)266-5627? - Central District - 367 Grove Street, (651)266-5563 - Downtown - 401 North Robert, (651)291-1111 - East District - 722 Payne Avenue, (651)266-5565 - Western District - 389 North Hamline Avenue, (651)266-5512

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, disaster prevention planning, public education, and training. Volunteer opportunities are available to help respond to disasters, provide public education, and offer recovery services.

- Provides citizens with information about disaster preparation - Coordinates the development and updating of the county's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that addresses all natural or manmade hazards that may affect the citizens of Dakota County - Coordinates, develops, conducts, and evaluates various disaster exercises

Emergency preparedness and disaster management: - Coordination of county government emergency services and resources during a natural or man-made disaster - Coordination of assistance available at the municipal level during a natural or man-made disaster - Information for self-help before, during, and after disaster-related incidents

Disaster Relief and Recovery - Responds to emergencies like fires, floods and severe storms. At every disaster, victims' needs are assessed and methods are taken to ensure they have clothing, financial assistance, food, health services, mental health assistance, temporary shelter/housing and other services to help them recover. - Find Open Shelters: If an emergency has forced an individual (with or without a service animal) to evacuate their home, the Red Cross may be able to help by providing shelter and services Contact Loved Ones - Family in the U.S.: Individuals can let loved ones know they are OK after a local disaster. Individuals can find someone they love who may have experienced a recent disaster. Clean Up and Recovery Guides - Staying Safe After a Disaster: Learn steps to take during and after most disasters or emergencies to help ensure safety - Check Home Safety: If an individual has had to evacuate, they can take steps to evaluate whether it is safe to enter when they are allowed to return home - Recovering Emotionally: Find out about special care individuals may need - Recovering Financially: Get information on how to manage the financial impact of disaster, from handling insurance claims to replacing documents that may have been lost - COVID-19 Bereavement: Offers information and resources for families that have lost loved ones due to COVID-19 - Emergency Resource Library: Tips and strategies for preparing, responding to and recovering from disasters and emergencies related to topics such as chemical emergency; COVID-19; drought; flood; flu; food safety; heat wave; highway safety; home fire; landslide; nuclear explosion and radiation; poisoning; power outage; terrorism; thunderstorm; tornado; water safety; wildfire; winter storm

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

- Advocacy - Airport navigation monthly - Autism conference - Behavioral consultation by a licensed clinical psychologist - Emergency preparedness training - Information and referral - Multicultural outreach coordinator aids access and support to AuSM services for individuals of all cultures - Newsletter, listserv, and autism resource library including book loan, library audiovisual services and online databases/CD ROMs - Parent education classes - Parent support - Resource directory of professional services and providers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin who work with individuals and families with ASD - Trainings for organizations and service providers - Camp Hand in Hand: summer camps for children ages 9 and older - Support groups for parents and family members

Works to prevent, protect against, quickly respond to and recover from health emergencies. Emergencies include: Acts of bioterrorism Effects of severe weather, natural disasters and power outages Incidents resulting in mass casualties Infectious disease outbreaks/pandemics Toxic chemical or radiological releases Also provides information about emergency go-kits.

Assists the community by preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Services include coordination with agencies to deliver critical support, such as emergency response and hazard mitigation, ensuring recovery and resilience, planning, public education, and training.

Disaster Relief and Recovery - Responds to emergencies like fires, floods and severe storms. At every disaster, victims' needs are assessed and methods are taken to ensure they have clothing, financial assistance, food, health services, mental health assistance, temporary shelter/housing and other services to help them recover. - Find Open Shelters: If an emergency has forced an individual (with or without a service animal) to evacuate their home, the Red Cross may be able to help by providing shelter and services Contact Loved Ones - Family in the U.S.: Individuals can let loved ones know they are OK after a local disaster. Individuals can find someone they love who may have experienced a recent disaster. Clean Up and Recovery Guides - Staying Safe After a Disaster: Learn steps to take during and after most disasters or emergencies to help ensure safety - Check Home Safety: If an individual has had to evacuate, they can take steps to evaluate whether it is safe to enter when they are allowed to return home - Recovering Emotionally: Find out about special care individuals may need - Recovering Financially: Get information on how to manage the financial impact of disaster, from handling insurance claims to replacing documents that may have been lost - Emergency Resource Library: Tips and strategies for preparing, responding to and recovering from disasters and emergencies related to topics such as chemical emergency; COVID-19; drought; flood; flu; food safety; heat wave; highway safety; home fire; landslide; nuclear explosion and radiation; poisoning; power outage; terrorism; thunderstorm; tornado; water safety; wildfire; winter storm

- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids - warm or cool - to prevent dehydration; avoid caffeine. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or if you take water pills, ask how much you should drink in hot weather. - Cancel outdoor activities if possible; wear a hat or use an umbrella and sunscreen if you must be outdoors. - Wear loose, lightweight, light color clothing. - Use air conditioning if you have it. Just two hours a day can help prevent heat-related illness. - If you do not have air conditioning, try to spend at least two hours in an air-conditioned shopping mall, restaurant, library, theater or other building. Close shades, blinds and curtains in your home during the day, but keep windows open slightly for air circulation. Open windows and window coverings at night. - Use fans to blow trapped hot air out windows; do not allow fans to blow on you or others in extreme high temperatures and humidity - approximately 90 degrees with humidity greater than 35 percent - because this increases heat stress. - Avoid using the stove and oven. - Eat small meals more often. Fruits, vegetables and salads are best. - Shower or bathe in water that is near skin temperature. - Keep lights low or off. - Postpone vacuuming or running other electric appliances that generate heat. - If taking regular medication, consult with your physician. Some medications cause adverse reactions in hot weather. - Do not use salt tablets unless directed to do so by a doctor. - Provide extra water and a cool area for pets. - NEVER LEAVE INFANTS, CHILDREN, FRAIL ADULTS OR PETS ALONE IN A CAR. - If during a heat wave you have any of the following heat-related symptoms, call 911 immediately: Confusion, disorientation, dizziness, very slow breathing, vomiting, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, hot and dry skin (you are not sweating). RISK FACTORS FOR HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS: - Age: The very young (under 4) and the elderly (over 65) are more vulnerable. - Obesity: People who are overweight have greater difficulty regulating body temperature. - Medical Conditions: Conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease or renal diseases may increase a person's susceptibility to heat-related illness. Medications for these conditions may cause dehydration. - Alcohol Consumption - Medications: Use of medications that affect the body's ability to perspire. Call the pharmacist or prescribing practitioner with any questions. - Excessive Exposure: People who are outdoors for long periods can be overcome easily with heat and humidity. - Parked Cars: Leaving people and pets in parked cars. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, extreme heat causes more weather-related deaths in the U.S. than all other forms of severe weather combined. "In a heat wave, the majority of victims are older individuals and people with pre-existing and chronic medical conditions," Mandernach said. "We strongly urge people to visit vulnerable family and friends - often - to make sure they take proper steps to prevent heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses." Others at greater risk from extreme temperatures include pregnant women, children, people who are taking certain regular medications, individuals who work in a high-heat environment, people engaged in strenuous physical activity and people who are mentally ill, Mandernach said. However, even young, healthy individuals are susceptible, she said. Two major types of heat-related illness exist. Heat exhaustion is non-life-threatening; heat stroke is potentially fatal. Early warning signs of heat exhaustion include decreased energy, slight loss of appetite, faintness, light-headedness and nausea, Mandernach said. People with these symptoms should seek a cool place, drink fluids, remove excess clothing and rest. Heat stress needs attention, but it is not a medical emergency. Serious signs that indicate a medical emergency and require immediate medical attention include unconsciousness, rapid heartbeat, throbbing headache, dry skin, chest pain, mental confusion, irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, staggering and difficulty breathing, she said. In an emergency, dial 911, move the heat-stressed person to a cool area and remove his or her excess clothing, spray the individual with water and fan him or her until help arrives. "If the weather service issues a heat warning, people need to make an even greater effort to keep cool, drink more liquids and limit activity," Mandernach said. More information: Department of Health Health Alert Network When the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or warning, MDH uses the Health Alert Network to send alerts to state and local agencies. These alerts prepare local agencies to deal with heat-related emergencies. The alerts also trigger any local heat plans, which are the responsibility of local emergency managers. MDH is prepared to provide information about heat related illnesses and steps people can take to prevent them. United Way 2-1-1 is also prepared to provide heat-related information. More Health Information: - Visit the MDH Web site at www.health.state.mn.us. Click on "Heat-related illness" under "Hot Topics." Department of Commerce Peak Power High temperatures and humidity increase the demand for electricity as homes and businesses use more air conditioning. In the unlikely event that the electric transmission or distribution system becomes overloaded, some customers might experience interruptions in service. While this is not currently a problem, the Department of Commerce has contacted Minnesota electric utilities regarding their "peak alert" programs to notify customers to take action if and when demand becomes too much for the system. Important voluntary actions include keeping the thermostat set at 78 or higher and delaying the use of electrical appliances until after 7 p.m. STAY COOL, SAVE ENERGY DOLLARS - Close shades during the day to reduce solar heat gains. - Use cross ventilation. Put a fan blowing in a window on the cool side of the house to push out hot air while pulling cool air into the rest of the house. - Set the thermostat at 78° or higher-a reasonably comfortable and energy efficient indoor temperature. A 78° setting will save about 15 percent or more on cooling costs over a 72° setting. - Clean or replace air conditioning filters at least once a month. - Turn off the air conditioner when you are going to be gone for several hours and draw the shades to keep heat out. It takes less energy to re-cool the house when you return than it does to keep it cool while you are gone. - Go easy on hot water - it produces both heat and humidity. - Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans when cooking or bathing to remove unwanted moisture quickly. - Reduce the use of artificial lighting because lights produce heat - Avoid using the dry cycle on your automatic dishwasher; allow dishes to air-dry instead.