Seasonal testing of the outdoor weather sirens that serve the City of Three Rivers began April 7, at 12:05 pm. The sirens will be tested on the first Saturday of every month, from now through October. Sirens will not be tested if hazardous weather is in the forecast for that day.
The TRFD would like to remind everyone that the sirens are designed to notify people who are outdoors that threatening weather is approaching. The sirens are not designed, intended, or expected to notify people who are indoors. Residents should not rely on the sirens to wake them up in the event of severe weather.
Weather-alert radios should be the first line of defense in every residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. In the absence of a weather-alert radio, a reputable cell-phone app may provide you with an early warning. Some apps provide a radio-feed from local weather stations, providing you with direct access to information on current weather watches and warnings.
If you hear a siren activation, do not call 911 to ask what is happening. Take cover and access a local radio station, TV station, or the internet for more information. A great resource to look at before or during severe weather is the Storm Prediction Center, which can be found at the following link: www.spc.noaa.gov. This site provides reliable severe weather forecasting and up-to-the minute watch and warning information. Take the time to be prepared.