CITY OF NILES SIREN ACTIVATION POLICY

Public safety officials from the City of Niles would like to ensure that all residents understand the policy for initiating the City of Niles Outdoor Emergency Warning System.

When you the outdoor sirens you should turn to a local television or radio station for further news and instructions. Please do not call Niles Police or Fire, or 911 to inquire if there is an emergency occurring. Phone lines need to be free to handle calls regarding the dangerous situations and life-threatening conditions unfolding should an emergency be in progress.

Some residents have misconceptions about how and when the outdoor warning system is activated. Please be aware of the following:

• The outdoor warning system is designed only to inform those who are outside in the open areas, of a tornado warning issued for the area. The system is not designed to warn residents within the confines of a residential, commercial, educational or other occupancy.

• The warning system is in place to warn residents of tornados. The system will be activated once per warning period as determined by the National Weather Service (NWS).

• The outdoor warning sirens are activated by the Niles 911 Communications Center.

• In the event of an actual sighting of a tornado in the area, observed prior to a warning issued by the NWS, law enforcement, fire service or emergency management agency can have the sirens activated.

• The system is not activated for thunderstorms, other severe weather conditions or perceived imminent hazards after the initial tornado warning activation has been made.

• The warning sirens will not be activated to signal an “all clear.”

• In the event that a previously issued tornado warning expires, and the NWS issues a fresh tornado warning for the area, the warning system will be activated again in response to the new warning.

SIREN TESTING INFORMATION

The next regularly scheduled siren test will be

June 28, 2008 @12:00 PM
(Last Successful Test: June 21, 2008 12:00-12:03pm)

The City of Niles tests their emergency warning siren system every Saturday at 12:00pm during the spring, summer and fall months and it will run for three minutes. During the winter months the sirens are tested the 1st Saturday of each month at 12:00pm and it will run for three minutes. The test will not be done if there are stormy conditions in the area or conditions look favorable for stormy weather.

It is important to remember that the sirens are NOT in place to be heard indoors. Every home should have a NOAA Weather Radio with S.A.M.E. technology.

There are seven siren locations throughout the city. If weather is less than ideal, or it is windy, the siren's volume could be louder or softer than on an ideal day. If you have any questions concerning our outdoor warning system please contact the Niles Emergency Manager at ttelego@nilesema.com.

Click here to hear a sample Emergency Warning Siren



Current Outdoor Warning Siren
Locations
(Click graphic to Enlarge)

If, for some reason, the sirens need to be tested on an unscheduled day (likely because of a malfunction that needs repaired), an announcement will be posted on this web site. However, if there is not an announcement, and the duration of the siren lasts longer than a minute, an emergency is likely to be in progress. One should then turn to a local television station for further news and instructions. Please do not call Niles Police or Fire, or 911 to inquire if there is an emergency occurring. Phone lines need to be free to handle calls regarding the dangerous situations and life-threatening conditions unfolding should an emergency be in progress.