At noon on Friday will mark the start of the Grand Rapids Emergency Management team’s testing of the outdoor warning sirens. Testing of those sirens will continue at noon on the first Friday of the month through October.
A news release says the sirens help alert members of the community, who are outdoors, of tornado warnings and the need to find shelter and seek information. The outdoor warning sirens are part of a broad emergency notification system that includes the City’s emergency alert system,
weather and media apps for smartphones, weather radios and local radio and TV alerts.
Emergency Manager Allison Farole says quote, “The sirens are used and designed only to reach people who are outdoors” adding, “The testing of the outdoor sirens is an excellent time to discuss plans for severe weather with your loved ones and co-workers.” End quote.
Those residents who are outdoors and who do not hear the sirens during testing are asked to call the City’s 311 Customer Service at 616.456.3000.
