Day 2 Topic: Outdoor Warning Sirens and NOAA Weather Radio
03/10/2009
Tuesday, Day 2 Good Morning and Welcome to Day Two of Severe Weather Awareness Week! Today is Tornado Awareness Day. At 1:30 PM, a simulated Tornado Warning will be issued. A Warning means that a tornado has been spotted or detected on radar. There are several misconceptions about outdoor warning sirens that should be cleared up:  Outdoor Warning Sirens are one of three methods to warn of impending weather. Sirens are intended to provide warning to those in recreational areas or who are outside. Broadcast media and All Hazard Radios warn people who are indoors.  There are 35 sirens in Douglas County.  Sirens are located in the most heavily populated and recreational areas.  The outdoor warning sirens for any or all of the cities in Douglas County are activated when the National Weather Service issues a "Tornado Warning" or when a local determination is made that a tornado threat to the area exists.  There is NOT an All Clear siren sound. If you hear the sirens.take cover! NOAA Weather radios are a cost effective and reliable method to receive warning of impending weather. Monitoring local radio and TV along with your weather radio will keep you informed of changing weather conditions. ~ All Hazard Radios have battery back-up. ~ Equipped with a special alarm tone that will sound an alert and give immediate information about a weather, natural or man-made emergency, or a life-threatening (or community-specific AMBER alert) situation. ~ SAME (Specific Area Message Encoder) pinpoints alerts for your area, reducing false alarms. ~ The hearing and visually impaired also can get these warnings by connecting weather radios with alarm tones, strobe lights, pagers, bed-shaker's, etc. WHAT TO DO WHEN THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES: When the sirens sound or when severe weather threatens, take the following safety precautions. ▼ In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement. ▼ If a basement is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. ▼ Stay away from windows. ▼ If you are driving a vehicle, do not try to outrun a tornado. Abandon the vehicle, and move into a pre-designated shelter or lowest level of a building. If a suitable structure is not available, lie flat in a ditch or depression, cover your head and neck with you arms, and be aware of flash flooding. ▼ Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned.
Related Links:
Douglas County Emergency Management Website - http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/em/em_home.aspx
Day 2 Topic - http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/em/preparedness/docs/pdf/severeweatherawareweek_day2.pdf
Preparedness Tips - http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/em/preparedness/em_preparedness.aspx?category_id=
Media Contact:
Jillian Rodrigue, Assistant Director
Emergency Management Department
785-838-2459
jrodrigue@douglas-county.com