Minnesota will conduct two tornado drills today.

The first drill is statewide at 1:45 p.m. It allows schools, businesses and hospitals to practice their emergency plans.

The second drill is at 6:55 p.m. in participating counties. That’s to allow families and second-shift workers to also practice their plans.

Last year tornadoes killed 551 people in the U.S., and so far this year there have been more than 150 confirmed tornadoes across the country.

This is severe weather awareness week in Minnesota.

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