Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency

Hamilton County
Emergency Management Agency

2000 RADCLIFF DRIVE
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45204

Ph: 513-263-8200 Fax: 513-263-8222

EMA Website click here

OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN SIGNALS
USED IN HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO

The outdoor warning siren signals are tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon. (For test purposes, each test signal sound will last for one minute)

To ensure that you receive the most timely and current severe weather information, utilize a tone alerting weather radio that will receive severe weather watches and warnings broadcast directly from the National Weather Service (NWS) over their NOAA weather radio broadcast system. Indoor warning tone alerting weather radios augment the outdoor warning sirens to give you an integrated indoor and outdoor warning system to best protect you.

SIREN SIGNALS USED

STEADY TONE - A TORNADO WARNING or a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING during a TORNADO WATCH (either as issued by the NWS)

When there is a threat of a tornado in Hamilton County, the outdoor warning sirens will sound a steady tone for five (5) minutes. Seek safe shelter when severe weather threatens. Turn on local TV, cable TV and radio for emergency information. Have available a battery operated radio and a tone alerting weather radio.

WAVERING TONE - ENEMY NUCLEAR ATTACK WARNING

The outdoor warning sirens will sound a wavering tone for five (5) minutes.

Turn on TV and radio for emergency information. Seek immediate protection from radioactive fallout in the best available shelter, preferably a basement location. Have available a battery operated radio.

Outdoor warning sirens are not used to give an ALL CLEAR signal. This information is given over TV and radio. Repeated sounding of the sirens indicates additional warnings are being issued.

WHEN WILL THE OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
SOUND IN HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
FOR SEVERE WEATHER?

THE OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS IN HAMILTON COUNTY SOUND A FIVE (5) MINUTE STEADY TONE UPON THE ISSUANCE BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) FOR HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO FOR EITHER OF THESE TWO SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS:

1. A TORNADO WARNING

or

2. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING during a TORNADO WATCH

If you hear an outdoor warning siren, seek shelter and immediately tune to a local TV or radio station for weather information.

To ensure that you receive the most timely and current severe weather information on a daily basis, we recommend a tone alerting weather radio that will receive severe weather watches and warnings broadcast directly from the National Weather Service (NWS) over their NOAA weather radio broadcast system. Indoor warning tone alerting weather radios augment the outdoor warning sirens to give you an integrated indoor and outdoor warning system to best protect you.

For any additional information regarding the integrated indoor and outdoor warning system call:

Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency

(513) 263-8200