This is rediculous! (Update)

[Jenn Lynn]

Yesterday evening we were in a severe T-storm Warning. I heard the sirens go off so I assumed it was a tornado. WRONG! My city has decided that it will sound the tornado sirens when we have a Severe T-storm warning. I did not know about this until DH came home and said the guy on the radio came on air in the middle of a song to tell everyone that it was NOT for a tornado.

I do not think this is a good system at all. How are we going to know the difference?

At least DD was ready .

Avery waiting for the tornado in the bathtub.

 

[Broken8ball]

Around where I live, a severe t-storm can do as much damage as an actual small tornado. High winds, dangerous lightning, etc can hurt you just as bad so its not completely a bad idea.


At least you got a good picture out of the event?

 

[gallaj0]

I don't know how people can deal with tornados.
Around here, we have some pretty bad storms, but there's usually plenty of warning and time to prepare. I can't imagine just hearing a siren go off, and having to worry like that.

 

[bananiem]

They do that here too, if there is a rotation shown in the clouds on radar. The explanation is that if they wait until the tornado is formed, it's too late for the people right where it is. The hope is that people will take shelter and be protected when or if it does turn into a tornado.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I was thinking the same thing as gallaj0 posted, how do you deal with tornados?

I can't imagine what it must be like.

 

[bananiem]

Actually I think the radar has gotten so good that most of time we know well ahead of it coming. I don't hear of deaths or serious injuries due to tornadoes as I used to. I still don't want one to come near me but I'm more afraid of the idea of an earthquake. No warning?! Yikes!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I don't remember ever being taught to seek shelter (like a basement) for a severe T-storm, only for tornados. Maybe they are changing what they teach now. I will have to ask my Dad (notice my tag ) if this is becoming the norm.

As far as having to deal with tonados, I grew up in Nebraska, then lived in Iowa, and now Wisconsin. It's a way of life. I was more concerned for my DH who was on his way home when it blew through than DD and I.

 

[HollyJoy]

How annoying!

 

[Dan Murphy]

We did have our sirens go off Tuesday, for a severe TS warning. Always have our NOAA on so we do know what is happening.

 

[dianeschlicht]

At least with tornados, there is some warning. Now earthquakes are another matter! Also, if you get caught in a tornado, there are some very specific things you can do to protect yourself. If you are driving, you drive at right angles to the approaching funnel. If you are at home, you go to the lowest level and under a stair etc.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Trish Bessette
I was thinking the same thing as gallaj0 posted, how do you deal with tornados?

I can't imagine what it must be like.

http://www.tornadoproject.com/safety/safety.htm

 

[elgerber]

Our sirens go off also for Thunderstorm Warnings. A lot of times the severe thunderstorms can be quite dangerous as well. They can have the straightline winds, large hail and lot's of lightening. I think they just want you to be prepared, and check the radio or TV to see what the situation is.

Erika

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I just got off the phone with my Dad (called him at work.) He said that it has become more common in the last 5 years to have the direns go off for severe weather. He said that each city/area is different in their criteria for when to sound the siren.

He told me a story of when we lived in Iowa about a boy who was camping in a tent. It was 4 am and a severe t-storm with 80mph winds blew through. The winds blew a tree over and it landed on the tent and killed the boy. The parents said if they had had more warning they would have brought the kids inside. (family reunion kids camping parents sleeping inside. they lived in a rural area.) That was part of the reason the city decided to start sounding the sirens if the winds are more than 70 mph. The NWS issued a warning an hour before, but since it was 4am mo one heard it. (If they had a weather alert radio they would have known it also.)


I guess the sirens are no longer just tornado sirens. They are severe weather sirens-which could mean any number of things in your area. Please take the time to go to your cities website and look up their criteria for sounding the sirens.

I found out that the sirens will sound in my city for ANY severe weather in ANY part of my county: thunderstorms, tornados, flash floods, etc.
Added:It also states on my cities web page that the sirens are to warn people who are outdoors. Theya re NOT meant to wake people up. And yesterday I could barely hear them and I had my windows open. I was also wondering why my Weather readio was not telling me about tornados! (DUH!)

Dad said he will always remember the boy in the tent. It really hit home to him that night.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I also wanted to say that I don't think it is rediculous now that I know what it is for. It was just not what was ingrained into my brain during childhood. LOL!

At least I can teach DD the correct thing now. Learn something new everyday!

 

[Micca]

They only use the sirens for tornado warnings here(and that means a tornado has been spotted on the ground). We don't go to the basement for storms.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Originally posted by Micca
They only use the sirens for tornado warnings here(and that means a tornado has been spotted on the ground). We don't go to the basement for storms.

Do you have storm shelters? Just curious.

 

[bananiem]

Originally posted by Micca
They only use the sirens for tornado warnings here(and that means a tornado has been spotted on the ground). We don't go to the basement for storms.

They wait that long!?!!? But you're in KANSAS!!! Did they learn NOTHING from The Wizard of Oz?

 

[Microcell]

Originally posted by Micca
They only use the sirens for tornado warnings here(and that means a tornado has been spotted on the ground). We don't go to the basement for storms.

And most Kansans just go outside and watch them anyway!

 

[hercamore]

so far, in SE Minn, sirens are only sounded for tornadoes.

They sounded last Friday. We have several touchdowns in the area.

Major damage down near the Iowa border.

That story about the little boy being killed while in the tent sounds familiar. Lived here all my life. We're not far from Iowa line.


herc.

 

[MeanLaureen]

You know, we don't even have sirens here - that I know of. I've never heard any go off other than that obnoxious noise that you hear on the tv when they do a severe weather crawl.

It's not like we haven't ever had tornados either. We had one last year, I've personally been in one, and I can think of two other ones off the top of my head in the past ten years that have had casualties.

I think we need some of those siren things!