What are Minneapolis and St. Paul's Outdoor Emergency Sirens For?
The sirens sound in the event of tornadoes, severe thunder or lightning storms, hazardous-material spills, power-plant malfunctions, terrorism, and other emergencies threatening the area.Who Operates the Emergency Sirens in Minneapolis and St. Paul?
The sirens are owned by the city they are located in, but the decision to sound the siren is taken by a county official.
In an emergency, the county's incident commander -- the police chief, sheriff or county emergency manager -- makes the decision to sound the sirens.
When are the Minneapolis and St. Paul Emergency Sirens Tested?
Sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of each month. The sirens are tested to verify normal operation, and to familiarize residents with the sound of the siren.
Sirens make two different signals, and both are sounded during a test.
The first signal is used for tornadoes and severe weather. It's a steady tone.
The second signal is used for other types of emergencies. It has a warbling sound.
The sirens are tested every month, all year round. Historically the sirens were only tested in the summer, but with recent terrorist concerns and the potential need to respond to other emergencies they are now tested in the winter too.
What Should You Do if you Hear an Emergency Siren?
Turn on a local TV or radio station to find out the nature of the emergency before taking action. It's not a good idea to automatically take to the basement - the sirens can sound to warn of flash floods.
A battery operated radio is preferable, and every home should have one. It's safer in a lighting storm, more reliable in a power outage, and can be taken with you to a shelter if necessary.
Local television and radio will broadcast advice on what action to take. It's best to get informed before a disaster happens: The Minnesota Department of Public Safely, DPS, has prepared guidelines of what do do in tornadoes, floods, or other severe weather.
The Red Cross has lots of information about what to do in emergencies.What Can I do to Prepare Myself and My Family?
Every house should have a disaster plan, and an emergency kit.Code Ready is a program sponsored by the Minnesota DPS. At the Code Ready website, you can make a personal disaster plan, and find out more about preparing for disasters and emergencies.
Will the Emergency Sirens Sound for Every Emergency?
No. Don't rely on the sirens to sound in every emergency.
The sirens are designed to alert people who are outdoors, and may not be audible inside buildings. It is assumed that people inside buildings will hear a warning on radio or television.
In a very sudden emergency, there may not be enough time to sound the sirens. Or, a disaster that affects the emergency sirens can also prevent them being sounded.
