DICKINSON — Hold onto your hats, folks, because the Stark County Emergency Services department is sounding the alarm – but don't worry, it's just a test. Beginning Wednesday, Apr. 26, and every Wednesday thereafter at 11:00 am, the outdoor warning sirens will sound for 30 seconds to ensure that they are fully operational in the event of severe weather conditions.
Stark County Emergency Services announced that it will resume their normal testing of the outdoor warning sirens in a press release on Monday.
"We test our sirens weekly, for 30 seconds, to ensure that all sirens are sounding and operational in the county," said Shawna Davenport, director of Stark County Emergency Services. "Our weekly tests will begin in the spring and run until the fall, ending usually around the first snowfall."
The outdoor warning sirens will be activated in several situations, including when the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for any community located in Stark County. Other situations include when a funnel or tornado is reported within 15 miles of any city within Stark County, when sustained wind speeds of 70 mph or greater are reported to be approaching or within any city in Stark County or in the event of a reported tornado within the county. The sirens will also sound during testing and maintenance operations.
"We want to remind residents that during our normal weekly testing, they should not be alarmed, but if they notice that the sirens are not sounding during the testing period, they should contact our department so that we can resolve any issues," Davenport said. "In total, we have 19 sirens that are spread throughout the county in strategic locations and have added two new sirens. The new sirens are located at the Stark County fairgrounds and one at the new water tower in the city of Dickinson."
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Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately if they hear the sirens during the above-mentioned situations. They should tune in to local media stations for additional information and avoid dialing 9-1-1, unless they have an emergency requiring emergency response.
The Stark County Emergency Services urges all residents to take the necessary precautions to stay safe during severe weather conditions.
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