Tornado sirens what do the mean

Sign In. Now what? The decision to activate these sirens is part of a comprehensive planning model designed by Highland Village Public Safety officials. In order to help you better understand these sirens and what YOU can do to be prepared, we have developed the following Emergency Preparedness message:. What do the sirens mean? Once the warning sounds, citizens are encouraged to: Immediately seek shelter!

The EOWS are designed to sound for 3 minutes followed by a silence period and then may be repeated a second time if necessary. Sirens are tested according to local community or state policies. In the Quad Cities area, this is on the first Tuesday of each month. Check with your local officials to get the specific day for your community. People should be indoors and monitoring local media for updates on the storm. Why are the outdoor warning sirens sometimes sounded for hail and wind?

When thunderstorm winds exceed 70 mph, trees can be uprooted or snapped. Hail that is golf ball sized or larger can break windows. Both of these things pose a direct risk to life if people are caught outdoors. An increasing number of communities inlcuding in the Quad Cities area are incorporating these threats into their outdoor warning siren policies.

How often can I expect the outdoor warning sirens to sound for severe weather? On average, the Quad City area experiences 5 storms each year that meet the common siren guidelines. You can find information about past storms and their frequency in your community through the National Climatic Data Center.

Will the outdoor warning sirens warn me of every dangerous storm? The safest approach is to be proactive and use all of the information available to protect yourself and your family from threatening weather. Nothing can replace common sense. If a storm is approaching, the lightning alone is a threat. Who activates the outdoor warning sirens?

Sirens are typically activated by city or county officials, usually a police or fire department or emergency management personnel. When you hear a warning siren, you should go inside and shelter away from windows and check the news or an all-hazards weather radio for further information. The National Weather Service says if you're outside, such as in a vehicle, sheltering in a shed, storage unit or tent is not safe.

Instead, you should get down in your car, covering you head with your arms and hands. You can also abandon your vehicle and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ravine or a ditch while still covering your self with your hands and arms or a coat or blanket. Booker recommends all homes have an all-hazards weather radio and not to rely just on smartphones. Weather radios are battery operated and can relay important information regarding severe weather and tornadoes.

Email IndyStar reporter Justice Amick at jamick gannett. Follow her on Twitter: JusticeAmick. Facebook Twitter Email. How Indiana counties decide when to sound tornado sirens. Justice Amick IndyStar. Show Caption. Hide Caption.