Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Arlington Fire Department explains outdoor warning sirens and when they will sound
Summary
Shawna Lemley of the Arlington Fire Department's Office of Emergency Management explained that Arlington operates 53 outdoor warning sirens, the conditions that trigger them (including tornado warnings, trained spotter reports, large hail or 70 mph winds), and advised residents to move indoors to the lowest interior room when sirens sound.
A recorded 'Ask Arlington' segment played during the Oct. 21 meeting featured Shawna Lemley of the Arlington Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Management explaining how the city’s outdoor warning siren system works.
"The Arlington Outdoor Warning Sirens are a system of 53 sirens used to alert the outdoor public of any potential or imminent threats," Lemley said. She described the conditions that prompt activation: a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service; a tornado report from a trained storm spotter; hail one and a half inches in diameter or larger; sustained winds of 70 miles per hour or higher; or any other outdoor emergency that threatens public safety.
Lemley said the sirens are activated by the Arlington Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Management and advised residents that when they hear outdoor warning sirens they should move indoors to the lowest interior, windowless room of their home.
The segment served as an informational public-safety reminder rather than a council action. Residents with questions about outdoor alerts were directed to the Fire Department’s emergency-management office for additional guidance.
