Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- In a move that promises to make thunderstorms feel a bit more personal, the Effingham City Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has decided to get loud about severe weather. Now, not only will tornadoes trigger the city emergency sirens, but also severe thunderstorms if they have wind speeds in excess of 80mph or baseball sized hail.
“Look up in the sky! It’s a bird? A plane? No, it’s 80mph severe thunderstorm headed this way, and our sirens will make sure you don’t mistake it for Superman,” said Larry Thies, EMA Director. He believes that when it comes to severe weather, more noise is definitely better.
When you hear the sirens, don’t just stand there admiring the possible baseball sized hail, it’s not really a good catch. Get inside and check out what’s up with the weather on your favorite app, website, or local news station. Sirens will only be activated if Effingham is listed in the impact area.
Here’s a breakdown of when the Effingham sirens will sound:
- Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with a ‘destructive’ tag: Big winds and/or hail baseball sized or bigger
- Continuous Improvement: We’re always checking sirens to make sure they are loud and clear
- Community Safety: More sirens mean more heads up so you are better prepared when a severe storm is in the area
For more information on this new warning siren policy, or for tips on how to prepare for severe weather, please contact the Effingham City EMA office at 217-342-2555 ext. 5368 or visit effinghamil.com/emergency-management-agency/.
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