Today marks the one-year anniversary of the tornado that ripped through Glenville and made its way over to the northwest side of Austin and eventually into Lansing township.

The anniversary is a grim reminder of the destructive nature of tornadoes and how unpredictable and violent weather can truly be during this time of year in southern Minnesota.

So what can we do to prevent such events from happening? Nothing.

However, we can be prepared protect ourselves the best we can. Make sure you have a safe place in your residence to take cover, in case severe weather strikes. Have a flashlight and radio handy and having a few jugs of water around wouldn't hurt either.

No one can predict where a tornado will exactly strike. However, we can be prepared to anticipate such tragedy when it does occur.