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October 3, 2022
For Immediate Release
Outdoor sirens: not just for tornados
Lou Hunt, Ottawa's Emergency Management Director and the County's 'official storm chaser' wants you to know that outdoor warning sirens are not just for tornados.Â
"It’s important that our citizens understand that the outdoor warning sirens can alert for many types of emergencies," said Hunt. "If you hear the outdoor warning sirens, go inside and seek more information."
The sirens are often used to alert residents of tornados or high winds, but they could also be used during a chemical hazard or nuclear threat. Sirens are intended to alert people who are outdoors (within about a mile of the sounding location) to seek shelter and further emergency instructions from TV, radio and other media or technology. More information about sirens including a map of locations is available at https://www.miottawa.org/Sheriff/sirens.htm. The sirens are tested monthly from April through October.
Simulate a real chemical emergency
This Friday, October 7, will be the last test of the outdoor warning siren for 2022. Between now and then, emergency planners are urging residents to take a moment and simulate a real emergency. Officials are calling it a Shelter In Place Drill for a Chemical Emergency and here's what you should do for the simulation:Â
- Go inside and close doors and windows. For this drill, we are acting as though a poisonous vapor has been released into the air.
- Shut down air conditioners, furnaces or fans. The goal is to keep outside air from entering inside.Â
- Grab a role of duct tape and simulate taping window and door jams and covering vents.
- In a real emergency, you would stay in your home or current location (called "shelter in place") until a message reaches you that it is safe to resume activity.Â
- If you cannot physically practice these steps, at least think about them.
- If you are part of a business or organization, have you designated the responsible party for these steps? Can you discuss these steps with your team?
"In a technological world, a variety of chemicals travel our roads, rails and are even manufactured in Ottawa County. Having the capability to shelter in place during a chemical emergency is a something we need to be prepared for," said Hunt.
For more information about chemical emergencies, visit https://www.miottawa.org/Sheriff/LEPC/shelter-in-place.htm
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