Richmond’s Weather Alert Siren.

Did you know that Richmond has a weather alert siren?  The siren that was previously used to call our volunteer firefighters to the fire station when an emergency was in progress has now been modified so that it can be used as the village’s emergency warning signal. 

The Richmond weather alert siren will sound continuously for 3 minutes if Richmond residents are recommended, by the National Weather Service, to immediately seek shelter for an approaching violent storm.  This would include tornado sightings within the Richmond area, a tornado whose path is expected to intersect the greater Richmond area, and other violent storms that are sighted and heading towards Richmond.  An all clear sounding of 1 minute will be made when the violent weather has passed the Richmond area.

In order for the public to become familiar with the weather warning siren, during the months of March through October, the weather alert siren will be sounded for one minute on the first Tuesday of each month at approximately 10:30 a.m.  However, to avoid confusion, should violent weather be in the Richmond area when the test is due, the warning siren will not be tested.  If extreme weather is in the Richmond area on the first Tuesday of the month during the normal test time of around 10:30 a.m. and you hear the 3 minute warning siren, immediately seek shelter.  Siren test dates for 2007 are as follows:

• March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, and October 2.
• The siren will be sounded as close to 10:30 a.m. as possible.

Now is a good time for you to review your family’s emergency response plan for such a disaster.  For your free copy of “Preparing for Disaster”, written and produced by FEMA and the Red Cross, click the following link (disasterplan) to download a copy of this valuable tool in PDF format.

©2007 Richmond Township Fire Protection District - All rights reserved