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Consistent Outdoor Warning Siren Procedures to be Implemented Across Region

Scott Harvey
/
KSMU

Emergency officials in southwest Missouri say they’ve created a first of its kind policy to streamline the area’s outdoor warning siren activation to better inform citizens.

Meteorologist Doug Cramer with the National Weather Service in Springfield is part of the Ozarks Integrated Warning Team.

“Over the past 10-15 years we’ve had our share of tornado outbreaks across southern Missouri, and there’s a lot of evidence out there that would suggest that there’s confusion amongst when the storm sirens are actually activated,” Cramer said.

Which is why beginning March 1; Greene and Jasper counties, the city of Branson, plus several surrounding communities will follow the same procedures when setting off sirens. That includes activation in the event of a tornado warning or spotting of rotation or funnel cloud in the jurisdiction, and in the event of a thunderstorm warning “producing life-threatening winds” or spotting of such winds approaching a jurisdiction.

The speed at which winds are dubbed life-threatening is around 75 miles per hour, says Branson Fire Chief Ted Martin. He notes that each jurisdiction will have latitude in determining what speed is appropriate to warn its citizens, based on time of day and community demographics.

“For example in the Branson community we realize that we have a lot of open water lakes, we have outdoor attractions, we have theme parks, go cart tracks, golf courses; so we may see that as these storms are developing and approaching we’re gonna be in that 75 mile per hour range but may opt to go ahead of it as well,” Martin said.

When activated, sirens will sound a steady tone for three minutes on and then three minutes off and continue as needed, meaning the tone could repeat multiple times during that weather event. The length of the tone did not used to be consistent throughout the region. Also, there will not be an all-clear sound once the storm has passed.

Martin says the sirens are just one component of the warning procedure.

“We want the public to be informed with the broadcast media days in advance. The National Weather Service is putting that word out sometimes up to 72 hours or more,” Martin said. “Then have a NOAA weather radio in your home or your business. And then use those outdoor warning sirens for redundancy, followed by smartphone applications, for example.”

The other change comes in the form of testing, which will be done on the second Wednesday of the month. Sirens will be activated at 10 a.m. that day for 3 minutes. But if officials are forced to cancel the test due to cloud cover or predicted storms on the day of testing, there will be no make-up test. Previously Springfield, Joplin and Branson tested on different days and initiated make-up test days if needed.  Sirens may be tested after maintenance or repairs if proper notice is given.

Collectively, there are roughly 170 outdoor warning sirens in Greene and Jasper counties and Branson.

In addition to Springfield-Greene County, Joplin-Jasper County and Branson; other jurisdictions participating in this streamlined effort include: Carl Junction, Webb City, Carthage, Sarcoxie, Monett, Pierce City, Village of Freistatt, Verona, Bolivar, Taney County, Newton County, Pineville, Polk County, and Battlefield.

The Ozarks Integrated Warning Team also includes Chet Hunter, director of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management; Keith Stammer; Director of the Joplin-Jasper County Office of Emergency Management; and Kevin Lighty, Chief Meteorologist for KSPR-TV in Springfield.

The organization hopes to expand the effort statewide.