It’s shaping up to be an active summer weather-wise with predictions for more to come.

There’s been a few days in Sidney where thunderstorms ripped through, fortunately with relatively little damage. Then last week, all of western North Dakota was virtually lit up with watches and warnings for thunderstorms, flash flooding and tornados until Dickinson, N.D., received heavy damage from a tornado.

So it’s during times like these, it’s important to review and remember important steps for emergency situations. Richland County Disaster and Emergency Services coordinator Butch Renders says the most important thing to do is to pay close attention to radio, television and local newspapers to be informed on current weather conditions. In the case of a thunderstorm, Renders said, “Anytime there’s a thunderstorm, it has the potential to blow up, and that’s virtually what happened [June 30].”

A storm can increase in size with high winds, rain and hail in just a moment’s notice. And it can be so severe it can drop a tornado.

In cases where a tornado is on the way, Sidney is equipped with a siren called an alert tone. “Everybody hears the fire siren or the 10 o’clock curfew. That tone goes up and down. In an emergency, that tone is simply going to go up and stay there from one to three minutes,” Renders said, adding the tone will also go off in other life-threatening situations such as biohazards. The alert signals residents to turn their radios or TVs on to see what’s going on. The last time the tone sounded was more than a year ago.

There are also various Red Cross shelters around the city should a disaster occur, and they’ll be advertised through the media when the time comes.

Renders received very few calls from residents after the big storm struck, and he credits that to people who have grown up in an area where severe weather is common and expected during this time of year.

The disaster and emergency services coordinates each emergency service like the fire department, law enforcement and ambulance, Renders noted, “so that they are prepared when the disaster strikes and for the every day disaster.” The coordinator, who takes regular training classes from the National Weather Service, teaches classes on emergency situations and reviews emergency plans for various businesses.

The public can also attend classes for emergency preparedness that will be advertised in the Herald later. The next class, winter survival, isn’t until November, and the annual weather spotter class won’t be until April.

reporter@sidneyherald.com