Prepping in Minneapolis–St. Paul
In the Twin Cities, a winter outage is the emergency that matters most. Summer brings its own risks with tornadoes and severe storms.
- Extreme cold
- Blizzards
- Tornadoes
Sign up today
The official Minneapolis–St. Paul alert and lookup tools. Each takes a few minutes and works even if you do nothing else on this page.
- Minneapolis alerts (Smart911)Sign up for Minneapolis alerts
Text MPLSAlerts to 77295, or sign up online. Covers emergencies and snow emergencies.
- Ramsey County alertsSign up for Ramsey County alerts
If you live in St. Paul or elsewhere in Ramsey County, sign up for the county's emergency alerts.
Links checked October 2026. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach most phones automatically; these add local detail.
What can go wrong in Minneapolis–St. Paul
- Extreme cold
- Wind chills of minus 30 or colder make a heating failure dangerous within hours.
- Blizzards
- Heavy snow and wind close roads and strand drivers.
- Tornadoes
- In May 2011, a tornado tore through North Minneapolis.
- Severe storms and hail
- Summer storms bring damaging wind, hail and outages.
- Spring flooding
- The Mississippi can flood low areas near the river in spring.
What that means for your plan
Plan for a winter outage first. Cold-rated sleeping bags, wool layers and one closed-off room keep people safe. Use only indoor-rated heaters, and keep battery CO alarms on every floor.
Keep a winter car kit: blankets, water, snacks, a phone charger, a shovel and a candle-free light. If you're stranded, stay with the car and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
In summer, know your tornado shelter spot: the basement, or an interior room on the lowest floor.
Do these first, in this order
- Warmth without power
The most important prep in the Twin Cities.
Lighting and staying warm guide - Battery CO alarms
Outage heating is when CO poisonings happen.
Power stations and generators guide - Smart911 or county alerts
Including snow emergencies, so your car doesn't get towed.
Radios and communication guide - Winter car kit
Blankets, water, shovel, charger.
Go-bags and evacuation guide - Power station
Phones, lights and a heated blanket.
Power stations and generators guide - Two weeks of water
Frozen and burst pipes happen.
Water storage and filters guide
Questions
How do I get emergency alerts in Minneapolis?
Text MPLSAlerts to 77295 or sign up online through Smart911. The same sign-up covers snow emergency alerts. St. Paul residents can sign up for Ramsey County's alerts.
What should I do if I'm stranded in my car in a blizzard?
Stay with your car, call for help, run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat with a window cracked, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
How ready is your Minneapolis–St. Paul home?
The quiz weights every item for suburbs risks and shows your top gaps. About 3 minutes, no sign-up.