“In Ottawa County, we try to make sure that our citizens know it isn’t just for tornadoes. It’s not just for severe weather.”
Emergency Management Director Louis Hunt says even though the county tests its outdoor warning sirens on the first Friday of every month, April through October, this test has a different emphasis.
“It is for a hazmat-type release. The behavior we hope to generate with people is to go inside and seek more information.”
Hunt says Ottawa County is home to many industries manufacturing, storing, or transporting chemicals. When the rare accidental chemical release occurs, those sirens can be the first alert to shelter in place.
“Shutting off all of your HVAC and your fans. Close and lock all of your doors and windows. You might tape some of the drafty spots around your windows and doors as well.”
Hunt says in this digital age when most people receive emergency alerts on their devices, sirens are a necessary redundancy.
“In May, we had a significant storm in one of our townships in particular and some of the information from folks in that township was they, in fact, heard our outdoor warning sirens and were woken from a sleep, they realized something was going on and they were able to take cover.”
Emergency updates can be found on the county’s Facebook and X pages.
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