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city government news & events about apple valley employment resources |
Departments > Police > Emergency Management > Outdoor Warning Siren System | |||||||||||||||
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Outdoor Warning Siren System To provide citizens with the most effective warning possible, Apple Valley has a modern, state of the art outdoor warning siren system. It is electronic and allows for public address capability, as well as computer generated voice messages. It is important to note this is an outdoor warning system. The sirens are not designed to be heard indoors, but rather to warn people outdoors of impending severe weather or other hazards. In order for sirens to be heard indoors throughout the City of Apple Valley, they would need to be much louder than currently allowed by federal law or spaced far too closely together. However, if you live within a few blocks of one of these sirens, you may well hear it from indoors. The activation of the warning sirens alerts the public to seek shelter and to turn on radio or television broadcasts for further information. Information may also be obtained directly from the National Weather Service by means of a weather alert radio. The National Weather Service or television and radio broadcasts will provide information specific to the type of storm and appropriate safety actions to be taken. The warning sirens in Apple Valley may also be used for other emergencies, including chemical spills or toxic hazards, which may require residents to take action. Once again, information pertaining to these activations will be made available through radio and television announcements to inform you as the actions to be taken. "All clear" announcements will be made over the television or radio, and not by means of the warning sirens.
The system includes eight sirens, which are located at:
Apple Valley and other Dakota County cities have agreed to sound the sirens for severe thunderstorm warnings, very severe thunderstorm warnings, and tornado warnings. Severe thunderstorm warnings have been included in this criteria since 1980, when numerous homes in Apple Valley and throughout Dakota County were severely damaged with little or no advanced warning. A severe thunderstorm warning includes predicted wind speeds of 58 miles per hour or greater. Very severe thunderstorm warnings include wind speeds of 75 miles per hour or more, and a tornado warning indicates that a tornado has been sighted in the area. In 1980, winds in excess of 120 mph were recorded from a very severe thunderstorm. There was no tornado. The decision within Dakota County to operate our warning sirens under these criteria was based upon a number of factors. The use of sirens is currently the only effective means of warning people outdoors of rapidly approaching dangerous weather. Severe thunderstorms and associated lightening and hail present a great threat to people who are caught outdoors. Apple Valley also has a significant number of residents in manufactured housing units. These manufactured homes are especially vulnerable to the winds of a severe or very severe thunderstorm. Although there is always the potential that a warning may sound and the severe weather may not actually affect Apple Valley, it is better to give the warning and allow residents to seek further information from the radio and television broadcasts than to delay the warning and possibly not have residents advised in a timely manner.
In accordance with a statewide policy, Apple Valley tests its outdoor warning sirens at 1:00 PM on the first Wednesday of every month. The test sequence will last approximately four minutes and should be heard throughout the City of Apple Valley. Although we realize that the tests may cause some inconvenience for certain residents, it is in the best interest of the publics safety to test the reliability of our system regularly.
CONTACT AVPD EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Should you have any questions relating to severe weather and siren activation, please feel free to contact Apple Valley Police Chief Scott Johnson at (952) 953-2701 or to click to one of the web sites relating to the National Weather Service or Minnesota Department of Emergency Management.
Content updated on: 03-Apr-2006
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