Spring is just around the corner!  We will all be glad to see the temperature rise and the flowers bloom but along with our annual rebirth of flora comes volatile weather swings, tornadoes, and flooding. An important component of a severe weather planning is a reliable warning system. Outdoor sirens/speakers continue to be a critical component for emergency warning and public alerting. Effective and comprehensive emergency notification systems demand multiple methods of communication “layers”.

Some would like to rely on cell phones for notifications. Cell phone notifications have certainly added another layer of communication for authorities to notify the public, BUT studies show people generally consider siren warnings as the confirming source of information that motivated them to take immediate protective action. No matter what your socio-economic standing, what language you speak, or your age – when a siren sounds you recognize there is an emergency, and you need to take cover!