The new outdoor weather sirens are in place and ready to alert citizens who are outdoors that severe weather is in the area.
In the event Forsyth County is placed under a tornado warning, the sirens will be activated. The purchase of the sirens (11 new and one replacement) was approved by the Board of Commissioners in 2007, after which the planning, installing and testing took place.
"We are very pleased to have these new sirens in service throughout the county for the safety and protection of the citizens," Fire Chief and Emergency Management Agency Director Danny Bowman. "They are intended to provide warning to those outside that they should seek shelter immediately."
The new sirens are located throughout the county at the following locations: Midway Park, Central Park, Shady Grove Campground, Charleston Park, Matt Elementary School, Sawnee Primary School, South Forsyth Middle School, Chestatee Elementary School, Fire Stations 10, 14 and 15, and the Forsyth County Public Safety Complex.
According to Bowman, the determination of the siren locations was based upon targeting the largest numbers of individuals who might be caught outdoors, at places such as ballfields and school yards, and unaware a tornado has been sighted in the area.
The sirens sounded for the first time, with the exception of testing, on Feb. 18 when stormy weather threatened Forsyth County.
"Upon the county being placed under a tornado warning, the sirens were activated," Bowman said. "The activation process occurred quickly and exactly as designed."
Monthly testing of the sirens will take place at noon on the first Wednesday of every month, weather permitting.The test tone produces the Westminster Chimes sound.
The warning tone produces a wailing sound. To hear both the test and warning tone sounds the sirens make, visit www.forsythco.com.
Labels: Forsyth, Forsyth County, Outdoor, Sirens, Weather
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:30 AM
