Forsyth County to Add Five Additional Outdoor Severe Weather Sirens

Sirens are sounded for tornado warnings

Forsyth County will be adding five additional outdoor severe weather sirens throughout the county. The outdoor severe weather sirens, which will join the county’s 12 existing sirens, are designed to notify residents who are outdoors that severe weather is in the area. The five additional sirens were approved by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to help increase the sirens’ coverage areas. Installation of the new sirens is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

“The sirens are designed to provide notice of impending severe weather to those who are outdoors,” Fire Chief and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Danny Bowman said. “When the sirens are sounded, residents need to seek shelter immediately.”

The sirens are activated (warning tone) in the event Forsyth County is placed under a tornado warning. Regular monthly testing of the audible siren (test tone) takes place at noon on the first Wednesday of every month, weather permitting.

The new sirens will be located at: Fire Station 7 (Silver City), Ducktown Community Park, Midway Elementary School, Windermere Park and Big Creek Elementary School.

The existing siren locations are: Midway Park, Central Park, Shady Grove Campground, Charleston Park, Matt Elementary School, Sawnee Primary School, South Forsyth Middle School, Chestatee Elementary School, Fire Stations 10, 14 and 15, and the Forsyth County Public Safety Complex.

According to Bowman, the determination of the siren locations is based upon targeting the largest numbers of individuals who might be caught outdoors, at places such as ballfields and school yards, and unaware a tornado has been sighted in the area.

In addition to the county’s outdoor severe weather sirens, the Forsyth County EMA encourages residents to utilize a NOAA weather radio and to sign up for weather alert notifications.

Forsyth County residents can sign up to receive time-sensitive weather alerts for severe thunderstorm warnings, flash flood warnings and tornado warnings. Citizens can elect to be notified when these alerts are issued via telephone calls, emails or text messages. There is no cost for citizens to sign up to receive these weather alerts, but phone usage or text charges may apply.

To sign up for the alerts, visit the Forsyth County Web site at www.forsythco.com and look for the ‘Sign up to receive Forsyth County Weather Alerts’ icon on the home page. You will be directed to a secure sign-up page hosted by Twenty First Century Communications. The information provided during the registration process determines the geographical region of the county for which you will receive alerts.

For more information, call the Forsyth County EMA office at 770.205.5674. For additional details on emergency and disaster preparedness, visit www.ready.ga.gov.

Click here to view a map of the existing Forsyth County siren locations and the future siren locations.