Southington Firefighters explain different siren signals, emphasizes modern alerts
The Southington Volunteer Fire Department is clarifying the meaning behind its fire station siren and reminding residents that it is an outdated primary method for emergency alerts.
In a media release, the department explained the two distinct siren tones used. A siren that wavers up and down indicates a structure fire to which firefighters are being dispatched. In contrast, a steady siren tone lasting for three minutes signifies a tornado warning.
The department also reminded the public that the first Saturday of every month at noon is the scheduled monthly test of the tornado siren.
However, the Southington Fire Department stressed that reliance on the outdoor siren system for emergency information is no longer recommended. "Keep in mind that tornado sirens are not meant to be heard indoors," the release stated. "They are an outdated means of alerting the public according to FEMA."
Instead, the department urged residents to utilize more modern and reliable methods for receiving critical alerts, such as local news broadcasts, weather radios, and alerting applications on their smartphones.
This message aligns with efforts by the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to enhance emergency notifications throughout the county. The EMA introduced a Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) in partnership with WENS technology.
The WENS system allows residents to receive up-to-date severe weather warnings directly on their cell phones, home phones, or via email. Currently, the system is set to deliver only weather "warnings" to avoid alert fatigue among residents.
In addition to weather alerts, the WENS system offers the option to sign up for location-specific notifications for individual cities, villages, or townships within Trumbull County. These local alerts can include information about road closures, boil water advisories, or evacuation procedures during emergencies. The EMA anticipates that local communities will have the ability to send out these targeted notifications.
The Trumbull County EMA conducts a monthly test of its emergency alert system, including the outdoor sirens, on the first Saturday of each month at noon.
Residents of Trumbull County are encouraged to sign up for the WENS system to ensure they receive timely and accurate emergency information. Registration is available at https://entry.inspironlogistics.com/Trumbull_oh/wens.cfm. The Trumbull County EMA office can be contacted for any questions regarding the new notification system.
