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There are several outdoor warning sirens within
Dickinson County to alert the public of approaching
tornadoes or potentially tornadic thunderstorms.
There are several things you should be aware of
concerning these sirens:
- Like
their name implies, the sirens are meant to be an OUTDOOR warning system. They are not meant or
designed to be heard inside homes and other
buildings. To be alerted when indoors, you should
purchase a
NOAA All-Hazards (Weather)
Radio.
- The
sirens are activated when a Tornado Warning has been
issued for Dickinson County and/or when a tornado
has been spotted by a trained spotter.
- When
activated, the sirens will sound for approximately
three minutes, then automatically shut off. Just
because the sirens stop sounding does not mean that
the severe weather threat has passed.
- There
is NOT an all-clear siren. If the sirens
sound again that simply means that another storm is
approaching and you should remain in, or return to, your shelter.
The
sirens in Dickinson County are tested each Wednesday
at noon unless there are thunderstorms within 50
miles of Dickinson County or a Tornado or Severe
Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Dickinson
County. Tests are also suspended during the winter
months to prevent damage to the equipment from ice
and cold temperatures. |
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| If
you hear an outdoor warning siren you should
immediately go to your place of shelter.
DO NOT CALL 911!
When possible, take a battery operated NOAA weather
radio or an AM/FM radio with you to monitor
conditions while in your shelter. Do not leave your
shelter until you hear that the warning has expired
or been cancelled or when you are sure that the
severe weather threat has passed by. |
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| In
the summer of 2007, the Dickinson County Board of
Supervisors approved the purchase of four new
outdoor warning sirens from Federal Signal. These
sirens were installed in 2008 near Camp Foster,
Methodist Camp, Elinor Bedell State Park and near
Okoboji View golf course. In the summer of 2009, two
more sirens were installed around Big Spirit Lake,
one near Anglers Bay and the other in the Shore
Acres area. The expansion is part of a five-year
plan by Emergency Management and the County Board of
Supervisors to
install sirens in the developed areas of
unincorporated Dickinson County. Future sirens have
been planned for the Moore Lake/Twin Hills area, the
northwest side of Big Spirit Lake, the Horseshoe Bend
area and Montgomery. |
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The map
below shows current locations of Outdoor Warning
Sirens in Dickinson County. The green circles show
the APPROXIMATE
coverage areas for each siren.
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Outdoor Warning Siren by Methodist Camp.
(DCEM Photo) |
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Dickinson County Emergency Management
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www.dcoem.org
Dickinson County Courthouse: 1802 Hill Avenue, Suite 1202,
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
(P) 712-336-3987 (F) 712-336-1850 (E)
mehret@co.dickinson.ia.us |
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