Wildfires have increasingly been on Laura Rosendahl’s mind in recent years. She lives with her husband and 102-year-old grandmother on nearly 40 acres in Embarrass, southwest of Ely.
Since moving to the property about 20 years ago, they have watched much of the balsam fir in their woods struggle and die, leaving behind ample fuel for fire.
There’s always that thought in the back of your mind, she says: “Am I prepared enough, if we do have to leave?”
From uncertainty to action
That persistent anxiety is what led Rosendahl to the Ely Community Center earlier this year for one of our new StormWise Minnesota workshops. This University of Minnesota Extension and Climate Adaptation Partnership program aims to increase preparedness of Minnesota households and communities for growing weather and climate risks, including wildfire.
Along with local Extension educators Freya Thurmer, St. Louis County, and Sarah Waddle, Cook County, I piloted the workshop in Ely. We went to Grand Marais next, and quickly responded to the wildfire outbreak in St. Louis and Lake Counties with a workshop in Virginia.
The StormWise Minnesota curriculum focuses on four emergency preparedness activities:
- Growing weather and climate hazard awareness: We identify key weather and climate hazards expected to affect participants' communities over the next 10 to 20 years.
- Creating an actionable plan: Participants draft preparedness plans that outline evacuation routes, establish communication channels, and delineate roles and responsibilities for weather-related emergencies.
- Identifying basic supplies: Drawing on guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), we cover the essential components of a 72-hour emergency kit.
- Fostering collective resilience: Participants map out local resources and commit to at least one collective action aimed at reducing shared vulnerability, such as creating emergency response teams, mutual aid networks, or communication trees before an emergency occurs.
Following the Ely session, Rosendahl immediately purchased a weather radio, enrolled in local emergency alert registries, and began organizing supplies in case of evacuation. She has also been sharing information with her neighbors and friends.
“The fire danger is always in the back of our minds,” she says. “but the workshop has helped us to feel better prepared."
Preparing for the future
Rosendahl isn’t alone in worrying about weather-related risks.
When it comes to threats to our homes and properties, warming temperatures are not just contributing to the intensity of wildfires, but also driving heavier rainfall events.
No matter where you live in the state, it pays to take basic preparation steps now so you’re prepared when it matters most.
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