Westmont, Illinois -- Date Issued: June 24, 2021
The outdoor emergency warning sirens, which were recently sounded on Sunday, June 20 prior to the EF-3 tornado in DuPage County, are an important notification system that protects Westmont residents. The warning siren system is an all-hazards alert used to warn the general population of potential danger. During an emergency, the sirens will be activated for several minutes.
What Do the Sirens Mean?
Sirens in Westmont use two tones.
Alert: A single tone signifying an emergency alert. The volume of the tone will likely change as the siren rotates. This signal is used to inform the community of an emergency or disaster, including a severe storm, tornado warning (not a tornado watch), earthquake, chemical hazard/hazardous material incident, extreme winds, or biological hazard. The tone is designed to be heard when primarily outside. It should NOT be used as a primary notification for severe weather occurring in the area.
Attack: An up-and-down, rising and falling tone to signify there is a homeland security or attack emergency. This signal would be used if community officials were notified by federal and/or state government officials of an actual or impending attack on the local community.
Outdoor warning sirens throughout DuPage County are NOT used to signal an all clear. If you hear the sirens sound for a second time, there might be an additional warning or a more severe threat, such as a tornado being confirmed on the ground. Tune in to your local news agencies and listen for information from local and regional public agencies regarding the emergency.
Siren Test Times
Sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.
What Should I Do if I Hear the Sirens?
If the sirens are activated, and it is not a monthly siren test, citizens should:
- Seek shelter
- Use your cell phone or tune in to radio or television to get information about
- type of emergency
- instructions and recommendations
- Listen to your local news media for information regarding whether or not the emergency is over
- DO NOT call 911 unless you are reporting a specific emergency
Other forms of emergency notifications
- NOAA-approved Weather Alert Radios with battery back-up in your home
- Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), which are sent via cell phones and target areas specifically affected by an emergency situation such as dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations
- Cell phone weather apps
- TV and radio severe weather alerts
- News and weather websites that provide up-to-date information
For more information, please visit the Ready Illinois webpage.
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