Central ND News

Residents of Bismarck and surrounding areas have the opportunity to partake in a "Storm Report Survey Practice Drill" scheduled for April 30. This event, organized by Bismarck Emergency Management, is part of Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week, which runs from April 28 to May 2 in North Dakota. The drill aims to enhance community preparedness in the event of significant storm activities.

The storm report survey tool is designed to support timely situation awareness following significant storm events. Its purpose is to provide a clear understanding of the damage's scope and extent and identify impacted areas. Such accurate information aids in planning potential community recovery efforts.

Participants in the practice drill are asked to use the storm report survey tool to report fictional impacts or damages. Reports can be made from any location within Bismarck or its immediate area. Those taking part are encouraged to submit a photograph alongside their assessment, though they are reminded that the photograph can be of an innocent object such as a tree or sidewalk art, with a size limit of 5MB. Multiple responses are allowed.

A QR Code, available at the upper right of the survey, will direct users to the same tool.

In the event of a tornado watch issued by the National Weather Service, particularly when it includes the Bismarck area, or during any significant storm, the city's website and social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Threads, and YouTube, will provide access to this storm report survey tool.

In the event of an actual storm, the first priority remains to call 9-1-1 to report urgent needs requiring emergency response. The storm report survey is intended for post-event planning aimed at community-level recovery efforts. It is crucial that the survey tool is only used once the threat of severe weather has completely passed and only for assessing one's immediate surroundings.