(Atlantic) The Cities of Atlantic, Griswold, Lewis and Cumberland will begin weekly testing of outdoor warning sirens this Friday at noon. The City of Marne will participate in this initial test, then their regular siren tests will only occur on the last Friday of each month at noon.
Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator, said sirens serve to alert residents to take shelter indoors and seek more information. While the outdoor warning system can be an effective method of notifying those that are outdoors, to seek shelter indoors, it is only one part of a comprehensive emergency warning system.
“We need people to be weather aware. This afternoon we may have some severe weather. People need to be aware that is possible and they need to be listening to their radio or television station, have a weather radio or be getting those local notifications; we have an emergency notification system in the county and it’s a very useful tool to keep track of when we’re under threat of severe weather or a threat of any kind,” said Kennon.
To report a faulty siren, please call 254-1500 or email mkennon@casscoia.us. In your message please include location of the siren and a description of the issues you believe are occurring.
Next week is Severe Weather Awareness Week.
“We’re going to be putting out messaging throughout the week. I understand we have other things going on, and the highlight of the week is the annual tornado drill that we generally take part in, but they have cancelled it this year. That’s why I think it’s important that we’re doing these regular siren tests so that people get used to those because we won’t be doing that regular test next Wednesday like everybody is used to doing every year,” said Kennon.
To register for the Cass County Emergency Notification System, go to links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA). If you need assistance, please contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-243-1500.
