Emergency siren to sound off March 20

As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 1723, Erie County will participate in the statewide tornado drill by testing its outdoor emergency sirens at 9:50 a.m., March 20, according to a news release.

The county sirens are activated by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office any time there is a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service, or the reported sighting of a tornado/funnel cloud by public safety personnel, or the report of property damage or injuries caused by severe storms/tornado/ funnel cloud, the release said.

Erie County operates 44 outdoor severe weather warning sirens as part of the countywide severe weather warning system.

Tim Jonovich, emergency management director for Erie County, is reminding area residents that the sirens are designed to serve as an outdoor warning device and therefore are not designed to necessarily alert someone inside their home, office or school, according to the release.

The sirens simply mean to seek shelter and tune to your local TV and/or radio for further weather information, the release said.

Jonovich recommends the use of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration All Hazards/ Weather radios as the best indoor warning systems available today.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radios can be purchased at many area department stores and online.

It is strongly recommended that each family/ household and business pre-plan for weather emergencies. During an emergency, residents are asked not to call 911 or the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center whenever the sirens are activated for weather related emergencies, according to the release.

Dispatchers will coordinate the response of area agencies, the release said.

The sirens are not activated upon expiration of the warning; you will never hear the sirens activated to indicate “all clear.”

Regular monthly testing of the sirens will continue at noon, April 1, the release said.