Officials remind public of outdoor siren use

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Several recent occurrences of the McCook outdoor warning sirens being activated have prompted emergency management officials to issue a reminder pertaining to the purpose of the sirens.

According to a public service announcement, the sirens are not only used for tornadoes and severe weather events, but also to alert the public of chemical or hazardous material releases.

Upon hearing the warning sirens, citizens should immediately tune in to local radio or television stations for information concerning the siren activation.

Tornadoes, confirmed funnel clouds and potential tornado like weather events are said to be the main events that will prompt officials to activate the outdoor warning sirens. Weather is not, however, the only reason that the sirens are used. They would also be utilized to alert the public in the event of chemical or hazardous material release, such as a truck, train, or pipeline accident.

The City of McCook has nine outdoor warning sirens installed and operating. The sirens are not required by law and are simply another device to warn the citizens in the community of any life threatening situations which require action by the population.

The sirens are tested on the first Monday of every month at approximately 12 p.m. All areas of the City of McCook are within audible range of a siren.

According to the public service announcement, it should be understood that the sirens are designed and intended to be an audible warning device for those persons who are outside. When sounded, sirens may not be an effective warning device for those persons who are in dwellings or automobiles. Weather alert radios are strongly recommended for all dwellings, businesses, schools, mobile homes, and occupied trailers.

Many factors can affect the ability of a siren to activate and the ability of a listener to hear the sound, including wind, location and condition of the power line that feeds the siren, the sound power of the siren horn, and nearby landscape.

The McCook sirens have an overall effective design radius of at least one mile from the horn in an open field.

The volume of the siren tone is fixed and cannot be increased or decreased. The design and rotation of the sirens causes the sound to oscillate in pitch relative to the listener, allowing it to be discerned from other noises.

During a tornado warning, citizens and businesses should exercise their tornado preparedness plan and take cover immediately in the best available protective area that they have identified.

For other emergencies which would necessitate the activation of sirens, the public should stay tuned to local radio and television stations for further instructions.

If you have any questions concerning the outdoor sirens, please call Red Willow County Emergency Manager Gene Mahon at 345-1850, McCook Police Chief Ike Brown at 345-3450, or McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham at 345-5710.