Lake of the Woods County Emergency Management

05/15/2026

05/14/2026

‼️Update. The National Weather Service has expanded the Red Flag across central and northern Minnesota. Additional counties include: Aitkin, Beltrami, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake Of The Woods, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena ‼️
Due to dry conditions, high winds, and low humidity, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for today, May 14, for parts of northwest, west central, and southwest Minnesota.

While the Red Flag Warning is in effect:
❌Don’t burn brush and yard debris!
⚠️Be extra cautious with outdoor activities that could produce heat or a spark. Campfires are discouraged.
✔️Check ash piles from wood-burning stoves or heaters and any recent fire for lingering heat. Embers can stay hot for days, even months, and rekindle in Red Flag conditions. If you find heat, drown with water, stir, and repeat until it's out COLD.

‼️The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Friday, May 15, for most of central and northern Minnesota. Fire Weather Watches are evolving situations and can quickly progress to Red Flag conditions. Use caution and check conditions before burning.

Remember, only you can prevent wildfires!

Burning restrictions are in place for many counties. Check current fire danger and restrictions at www.mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions

05/13/2026

Class offerings are extremely limited this year, and this is likely the only in-person class being offered in the NW Region for 2026. Online training courses are available at https://www.weather.gov/fgf/stormspotting.

Pssst... we were lucky and were able to sneak in a Severe Weather Spotter Training ('Skywarn') in Bemidji taught by the National Weather Service Grand Forks Office. In-person classes are extremely limited across the region this year. This class is free and open to the public. No prerequisites are required.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 - 6PM
Beltrami County Boardroom
701 Minnesota Ave NW
Bemidji, MN 56601

Learn the importance of ground truth and verification through trained weather spotters. Attendees will be given a presentation on the basics of severe weather and how to make meaningful credible reports to the NWS to enhance warnings.

[Image: Beltrami County Sheriff squad car on a roadway covered in debris following a tornado warned storm. Text with the class details listed in the post.]

05/11/2026

Just a heads up…

AT&T/FirstNet will be doing planned tower maintenance (upgrading hardware/software) on the site at the corner of Hwy 172 and 28th Ave NW (South of Hackett). Maintenance will start at 8:00am on 05/12 and is scheduled to be completed by 9:00pm on 05/14. While the maintenance is being performed, there will be 30% overlapping coverage by the other local towers to help offload any network traffic in the area.

05/05/2026

Minnesota has updated its school bus law to protect students and remove uncertainty for drivers.

This isn’t just about following the rules. It’s about making sure every student gets home safely.

Previously, the law required drivers to stop for a bus when its red flashing lights were flashing and the stop arm was extended.

Under the new law, drivers must stop at least 20 feet away as soon as the red lights start flashing.

Read more in our Safety Matters Blog: https://dps.mn.gov/news/msp/flashing-red-lights-mean-stop-mn-strengthens-school-bus-safety-rules

04/17/2026

Minnesota's Severe Weather Awareness Week: Friday, April 17: Extreme Heat and Wildfires.

04/16/2026

Minnesota's Severe Weather Awareness Week: Thursday, April 16: Tornadoes

A highlight of the week is the Statewide Tornado Drill Day, scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026. At 1:45 PM for Lake of the Woods County, a Tornado Warning will be issued, during which Outdoor Warning Sirens and CodeRED® Alerts will be activated across the county. This drill is a critical opportunity for residents to practice safety measures and ensure preparedness for potential tornado events.

Residents are encouraged to:
• Review the contents of their emergency kits.
• Identify safe shelter locations at home, work, or school.
• Discuss and refine emergency plans with family members, colleagues, or community groups.

04/15/2026

Minnesota's Severe Weather Awareness Week: Wednesday, April 15: Floods.

Flooding is one of Minnesota’s most common — and dangerous — weather hazards. Even a small amount of rising water can create big risks for drivers, homeowners, and communities.

Here are a few quick reminders to stay safe this spring:

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet, and 12 inches can sweep a car away.
• Stay alert to watches and warnings. Make sure your phone and weather radios are set to receive emergency alerts.
• Know your routes. Identify alternate ways home in case your usual roads flood.
• Keep your property ready. Clear gutters, check sump pumps, and move valuables out of basements if heavy rain is expected.
• Never walk or drive through floodwaters. You can’t see what’s underneath — or how fast it’s moving.

04/14/2026

04/14/2026

Minnesota's Severe Weather Awareness Week: Tuesday, April 14: Severe Weather
Lightning and Hail.

WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT LIGHTNING
• All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous. Fortunately, people can be safe if they follow some simple guidelines when thunderstorms are forecast.
• Lightning often strikes outside the area of heavy rain and may strike as far as 10 miles from any rainfall. Many lightning deaths occur ahead of storms before any rain arrives or after storms have seemingly passed and the rain has ended.
• If you can hear thunder, you are in danger. Don’t be fooled by blue skies. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to pose an immediate threat.