Why use outdoor warning sirens?
Sirens are still the most effective method to warn the population at large in the shortest amount of time. People who may be outdoors at ball games, in their yard, or anywhere else where they are not in contact with the normal news media channels such as radio, TV or local public address systems.
How are they activated?
Radio control is the most popular method of activating sirens. To activate the siren system, the operator presses a button and a radio signal is transmitted. The signals are picked up by the receivers at the sirens. They decode the paging signals to determine what they are to do. A particular signal may instruct the sirens to give a weather warning call, while still another may cause the sirens to stop their sounding. With the new generation of communication signal processors, the variations are limitless.
Why are they called outdoor warning sirens?
The sirens are called outdoor warning sirens because their primary purpose is to alert people who are outside to severe weather, chemical, or other emergencies. While you may be able to hear the siren inside your house, this is not the primary function of the outdoor warning siren.
What should I do if I hear an outdoor warning siren?
If you hear an outdoor warning siren you should seek shelter inside immediately. Once inside, you should turn on a television or radio to find out further information. Local officials will be disseminating information about the emergency through these outlets.
When are the outdoor warning sirens tested?
The outdoor warning sirens are tested at 1:00 pm on the first Tuesday of each month. In the event of threatening weather (severe thunderstorm watch/warning or tornado watch/warning), the test may be postponed.
What is the range of the outdoor warning sirens?
The siren wail sound can be heard for up to one mile. Sounds can travel different distances depending on terrain, weather and other atmospheric conditions, so please remember these distances are just estimates and that the primary function of the outdoor warning sirens is to warn people who are outside of emergencies.
Audrain County’s Outdoor Warning System
- Farber – 1 Siren
- Laddonia – 1 Siren
- Mexico – 6 Sirens
- Rush Hill – 1 Siren
- Vandalia – 4 Sirens
To Report Malfunctioning Sirens:
Please submit an e-mail with the following data to Daniel Barnett, Assistant 911 Director:
- Location of siren
- What is the nature of the malfunction: not sounding, not rotating, muted audio, won’t shut down, etc.
- If you wish to be contacted by a member of the Joint Communications staff.
