Hennepin County, Ramsey County, and many other counties in Minnesota have outdoor emergency sirens.
If tornado sirens are sounding as you read this, immediately find out the best place to seek shelter from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
If tornado sirens don’t sound, and you are interested in learning more about sirens, when they sound, and what to listen to, then read on.
The purpose
The sirens are designed to sound in the event of tornadoes, thunder or lightning storms, hazardous materials spills, power plant malfunctions, terrorism, and other emergencies that threaten the area.
The most common reason for emergency sirens to sound is because of a tornado sighting or tornado warning.
Tornado siren vs emergency siren
The first sign is used for tornadoes and severe and dangerous weather. The tornado siren has a constant tone.
The second signal is used for other types of emergencies. It has a squeaky sound.
When sirens are tested
Mermaids are tested on the first Wednesday of every month. Sirens are tested to verify normal operation and to familiarize residents with the sound of the siren.
The sirens make two different sounds and both sound during a test. Mermaids are tested every month, throughout the year. Historically, sirens were only tested in the summer, but with recent terrorist concerns and the possible need to respond to other emergencies, they are now tested every month in the winter as well.
What to do if you hear a siren
If the constant sounding tornado siren goes off, seek shelter in your basement, a small interior room in your home, a designated tornado shelter, or other safe location.
If the other emergency, the siren is sounding, turn on a local radio or television station to find out the nature of the emergency before taking action. You may not want to automatically lead to the basement; 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 thunderstorm, 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 to do next. It’s best to find out before a disaster strikes: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, DPS, has prepared guidelines for what to do in the event of tornadoes, floods, or other severe weather.
The Red Cross also has a lot of information on what to do in an emergency.
How to prepare
Every home should have a disaster plan and an emergency kit.
Will the sirens sound for each emergency?
No. Don’t trust the sirens to sound in every emergency.
Sirens are designed to alert people outside and may not be audible inside buildings. People inside buildings are supposed to 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 involving the emergency sirens may also prevent them from sounding.
Who operates the emergency sirens?
Sirens are the property of the city in which they are located, but the decision to sound the decision is made by a county official.
In an emergency, the county incident commander, police chief, sheriff, or county emergency manager makes the decision to sound the sirens.
