Outdoor warning sirens sounded across the area Tuesday night during thunderstorms, with one going off just as another was ending, confusing many.
So what happened?
Hamilton County sirens sounded at about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, just as a warning was expiring. 鈥淚t was time for them to be set off again right when the warning expired. So, we then hit the cancel button and were able to turn them off,鈥� explains Nick Crossley, director of Hamilton County's Emergency Management Agency.
He stresses the word 鈥渙utdoor鈥� with such sirens.
鈥淔irst and foremost, they鈥檙e only meant to be heard outdoors. Inside buildings, there鈥檚 a good chance you won鈥檛 hear the sirens,鈥� he says. 鈥淗ouses are built better; you鈥檝e got your TV going; you鈥檝e got your headphones in 鈥� whatever it might be.鈥�
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Crossley says sirens are an . He says there are plenty of ways to get weather alerts that are quicker and more accurate than relying on the sirens
鈥淚t鈥檚 much better to have a NOAA weather radio that will alert you if anywhere in the county comes under a warning,鈥� he says.
Crossley says there鈥檚 also local broadcasters who will interrupt programming to cover severe weather.
The first thing he recommends is something most people have with them all the time. 鈥淢ake sure that you have wireless emergency alerts enabled on your cell phone. Your phone should activate when the Weather Service automatically sends out the alert to the wireless alert systems.鈥�
Crossley says having alerts enabled on your phone is advantageous because sometimes storms come in the middle of the night.
鈥淭hat noise will wake you up.鈥�
There鈥檚 also Alert Hamilton County, which will call, email, or text you. .
Crossley says there's a policy for when the sirens are sounded, which starts when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning. Policies can vary from county to county, including which office actually activates the sirens: In Hamilton County, it鈥檚 the EMA office. In Butler County, the Sheriff鈥檚 Office presses the button. Clermont County鈥檚 Communications Center activates the siren.
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Crossley says there's no such thing as an all-clear sound.
鈥淭hey activate for three (minutes); they鈥檙e off for seven; they activate for three minutes for the length of the warning.鈥�
Crossley says those seven minutes allows the sirens to wind down and reset.
