Grant County Communities to Test Storm Sirens May 7
Grant County Communities to Test Storm Sirens May 7
The Grant County residents should be aware that local officials have scheduled the annual test of the storm sirens for Wednesday, May 7. The tests are to be run in all municipalities in the county, according to Kevin Schuelke, Grant County emergency management director.
“We will sound both the volunteer firefighter alerting siren and the storm siren. Please listen and learn the difference,” Schuelke said.
In Milbank, the storm/tornado siren will sound at 10 a.m., and the volunteer fire alert siren at 10:15 a.m.
Schuelke emphasizes the difference in sound between the two sirens. “The fire siren is a wavering tone for 15 seconds or less. The storm siren is a steady blast for a long duration and extended period of time. Keep in mind these sirens rotate on their poles,” he said.
School children will be included in a drill that coordinates with the storm/tornado siren at 10 a.m.
Schuelke encourages residents to listen to the sirens and understand the differences in each sound. “Please use this time to educate your people and implement a severe weather plan for everyone’s safety,” he advises.
“Our location in the valley is an important factor in having officials watch for threatening weather. The distance and elevation drop from the Aberdeen Doppler radar to Grant County diminishes the radar accuracy,” Schuelke said. “There have been tornados in our area that did not show on Doppler, as they drop from Summit to Big Stone Lake, making trained weather spotters very important to insure the siren activation and alerting process.”
Warnings may be activated by multiple methods, according to Schuelke. Alerts may be prompted by real happenings reported by spotters or in response to radar indicated weather activity.
“Remember, outdoor warning sirens are just that, outdoor warning systems for the public to take action immediately. They are not necessarily designed to be heard indoors. Community members should utilize all available methods to stay up-to-date on the weather, such as signing up for the CodeRed alerts,” Schuelke advised.
