Jasper changes emergency siren procedures; will only sound sirens in the event of a tornado
During the recent bad weather in which two tornadoes touched down near Huntingburg sirens were sounded in Jasper but not in other areas of the county. Jasper activated their alarms because they follow a different procedure than the rest of the county and will activate the alarms in the event of severe weather.
The rest of the county activates sirens only in the case of a tornado and Huntingburg did not sound the sirens for the tornadoes because there was no Tornado Warning at the time and no spotters reported the events.
Later that same day at the Emergency 911 meeting the variance in Jasper’s policy was discussed and it was decided the policy needed review.
On Jan. 26 the City of Jasper announced it would only sound the sirens within the city in the event of a Tornado Warning being issued for Dubois County by the National Weather Service or upon receipt of a reliable report of a tornado from a Weather Spotter. A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted in the area.
The action places the entire county under the same policy.
“I am just happy about this move because it eliminates any confusion of anyone in the county,” Tammy Miller, Dubois County Emergency Management Director.
It's about time. Still, a bit confusing. The concern now might be the definition of a tornado warning – that which has been seen (spotted) as reliable by a weather spotter, according to this story. Is this what the NWS uses to define and issue a tornado warning – only eyewitness reports?
My point is, with the technology of today, seems the NWS would use rotational data – that which indicates rotation in progress – and issue warnings based on that. Rotation itself is no guarantee of a tornado, but it's close enough and too close for comfort. Plus, this is clearly different than a tornado "watch" which has been defined as "conditions favorable for a tornado." If radar shows rotation on a line with or over Dubois Co, for heaven sakes…screw the spotters and sound the sirens!
Ima,
NWS issues tornado warnings based on radar indicated tornados and/or visual confirmation of a tornado on the ground as witnessed by local law enforcement or NWS trained weather spotters. The weather spotters referenced in the article would be NWS trained spotters. In Dubois Co., you have a wonderful network of NWS trained weather spotters; and if I ever move back, I would love to join them (as I too am a NWS trained spotter).
We left it somewhat ambiguous in the story so no one would question when the siren went off whether it could be a tornado or not.
Siren sounding = Tornado spotted = get to a safe location.
Adam, I would contact Tammy Miller at the Dubois County Emergency Management or Janice Love at the 911 Emergency Communications Center. Both numbers can be found at http://www.duboiscountyin.org/offices/index.html.
Sorry, but your follow-up is still confusing: Shouldn't your "Siren sounding = Tornado spotted = get to a safe location" more correctly be exampled as: Siren sounding = Tornado spotted and/or NWS-issued warning based on radar-indicated tornado = get to a safe location – ? That was the point of my first reply – that you seemed to say only visual confirmation of a tornado sounds the sirens, and I indicated that we have the technology today to virtually confirm the same – and that sirens should sound even if spotters haven't reported it. Again, NOT for severe thunderstorms or watch conditions, but for TORNADO confirmed by technology or human.
Thank you for the information and re-assurance.
tit for tat, this for that.
Simply put…. If you hear the siren and you are still standing around talking about whether it is REALLY a tornado and who and what saw it then it won't matter after you get swept up because you weren't smart enough to take cover when the siren went off. Most adults know what a warning means. It means stuff is about to hit the fan you you don't want to be in it. …. or again you can just stand there scratching your head thinking that someone is trying to fool you into taking cover just so you will look silly. Silliness will be not taking it seriously. lol
I think that for the majority of the public, they aren't so much concerned with WHY the siren is sounding as they want to know WHAT TO DO when they hear a siren. I agree with Paul. In my opinion, if I hear a siren, I expect that to mean that I should immediately take cover in the basement (as if there were a tornado headed toward me.) I think it would be best if [whatever agency] would communicate that to the public: "Take cover anytime you feel the need, but ALWAYS TAKE COVER WHEN YOU HEAR A SIREN."
I personally rely on internet, tv, radio and what I see outside to determine what to do, because the only time we hear the sirens out here in the country is during calm days, with the windows open, when they do the siren tests.
A
I am an admin for an ever growing facebook weather page that covers the Ohio Valley. Whenever we post about storms heading into any area, be it a tornado or severe thunderstorm, we advise all in the path to take cover because one never knows when a storm will spin up a tornado or contain strong wind.
I think this is absolutely wonderful!.
My mom, is the director of EMA.
She does an amazing job at what she does,
for those of you who don't understand why,
don't judge. She gets out in the middle of night and watches these storms from our backyard.
Not only does she do a fabulous job at this, she's also a hero.
lets see ya'll get out there and weather spot, guarantee you won't have the guts.
WAY TO GO MOMMY!!
<3 your number 1 fan,
Your daughter, AKA: Cassie[=