How long are tornado sirens

Hail that is golf ball sized or larger can break windows. Both of these things pose a direct risk to life if people are caught outdoors. An increasing number of communities inlcuding in the Quad Cities area are incorporating these threats into their outdoor warning siren policies.

How often can I expect the outdoor warning sirens to sound for severe weather? On average, the Quad City area experiences 5 storms each year that meet the common siren guidelines. You can find information about past storms and their frequency in your community through the National Climatic Data Center. Will the outdoor warning sirens warn me of every dangerous storm? The safest approach is to be proactive and use all of the information available to protect yourself and your family from threatening weather.

Nothing can replace common sense. If a storm is approaching, the lightning alone is a threat. Who activates the outdoor warning sirens? Sirens are typically activated by city or county officials, usually a police or fire department or emergency management personnel. Check with your city or county officials to learn more. Does the National Weather Service recommend guidelines for sounding outdoor warning sirens?

Nationally, no. However, the local NWS office in the Quad Cities partnered with local emergency managers to develop the recommended siren guidelines that have since been adopted by many local communities.

Why does the Quad City area have a common guideline for sounding outdoor warning sirens? Where can I get more information? Wear protective clothing — long-sleeved shirts, long pants and sturdy shoes — while evaluating property damage. Emergency personnel should also be notified of injuries, the weather service said. Skip to content. A tornado watch verses a tornado warning. Taking shelter. Put on shoes and helmets while sheltering in place to prevent injuries from debris.

What to put in an emergency preparedness kit. More snow could come Sunday, too. Nonperishable water and food for several days. Flashlight with extra batteries. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio to receive weather alerts. Phone and phone chargers. First aid kit, essential prescription medications and hygiene products. Change of clothing. Sleeping bag or blankets. Important documents like insurance policies, identification, etc.

Alerts and Warnings. Expand All Collapse All. Page Content. Important Note: The counties and cities in Minnesota own and operate all sirens in their jurisdictions. They also set the policies and procedures of how and when to activate them. Spanish Hmong Somali. Personal Weather Alerts. Siren Activation Information. Types of Warnings. Severe Weather. Flooding, Flash Floods. Heat Waves. Severe Weather Awareness Week. Tornado Drill Day. Tornado Safety Information.

Winter Weather. Indoor Winter Safety.