Severe weather or regular volunteer fire alarm? Easton, MD residents wouldn’t know
On April 21, 2009 I recorded an incredible example of how confusing the Talbot County Emergency Management’s Tri-County Siren Alarm System is. We heard the air raid sirens all over town go off and looked out the window to find that rain had begun, the wind had picked up, and lightning bolts were crashing down in the distance. Virtually every time it rains there is a car accident somewhere in town and every time there is an accident they use the air raid sirens to alert the volunteer fire department. So was this a localized emergency or an imminent danger situation that all citizens should know about? The summons for the Town’s Volunteer Fire Department (which go off about 3 times daily) is a wavering tone 5 seconds up 3 seconds down, imminent danger is 6 up 2 down. As the wind increased we began to wonder if this siren might be a severe weather “Warning”, but a brochure from the Emergency Management ured us that a severe weather warning signal was a 2-minute steady signal which we did not hear. We turned on our TV, just in case, and found that indeed there WAS a severe thunderstorm warning being issued for our area with 60 mile an hour winds and continuous lightning strikes. The air raid siren ceased after two minutes and we could hear emergency vehicles responding to the nearby intersection of highway 50. Suddenly the fire signal went off again for another 2 minutes of wavering tones. When I phoned Emergency Management I was told that the sirens in this video are the fire summons because the sirens are never used for Severe Weather, only Hurricanes and Tornadoes. I ask, “Why not? Isn’t that what they’re for?” To alert us when danger threatens?
Duration : 0:6:24
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How far away from …
How far away from the fire station do you live?
that’s scary as …
that’s scary as …
federal signal …
federal signal model 5 and a aca screamer
well as a fire …
well as a fire fighter in easton the siren allows pepole to know that fire personal are in route. and also lets childern know to get out of the road. and the fact that there is sirens in the back round it is deffently a fire call. it and as you say just an accident. thats kinda screwed up. but you seem that you dont care.
if for some reason something happend to you or your home you would want that siren to be blowing. to let you know they are comeing. most people know the differnce.
it is a fire call …
it is a fire call most likely, because the siren does not generally sound when a severe t-storm warning is issued, there would usually be a tornado watch along w/ it. so being stormy and all, it was likely a coincidence.
oh i love how at 1: …
oh i love how at 1:07 you can start to hear the Powercall siren of an ambulance or the Chief vehicle.
the federal Q …
the federal Q mechanical fire engine siren
Im a Firefighter in …
Im a Firefighter in Easton. The Siren is a community alert siren to alert the community that fire department personnel are responding in personal vehicles to the fire station and also the apparatus will be on the road. As my fellow firefighter said before, the sirens are used 99% for emergency response and 1% for testing. one ring up and down is a medical alert, and any more than that is a fire/rescue response.
A Severe …
A Severe Thuderstorm Warning should not, and in most cases does not provoke a Siren Response. The only exception is in extreme severe weather (Hail larger then Baseballs and/or Winds over 80 MPH). Otherwise, If you dont know whats going on, that’s your fault. If you want a warning for each event, get a NOAA All Hazards Radio.
you hear that siren …
you hear that siren that means a fire call out
what kind of siren …
what kind of siren was that high pitched one at 5:57
Wow that’s …
Wow that’s dangerous. Our sirens activate Alert constant mode for Tornado warning, and Attack signal up and down for Tornado touchdown or other imminent emergency. My center dispatches FD through use of Nextel and Pagers
Why does Easton MD …
Why does Easton MD sound the sirens for two minutes for Tornado Warnings thats too short in my city of Minneapolis MN they sound the sirens for five minutes of steady Alert for both Tornado Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Distructive Wind gusts in eccess of 75 MPH or higher also the sirens are tested in Alert and Attack of the monthy test on the first Wednesday of the month at 1:00PM my city uses Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000Ts 2001s and Model 2s which are downtown
We use air raid …
We use air raid sirens in Australia to alert the general public of emergency calls and to notify volunteers who missed the initial pager call that theres a call out
No. It’s an ACA …
No. It’s an ACA Screamer and a Model 3.
I’m a member of the …
I’m a member of the Easton VFD. If there was iminent danger, or severe weather, then you would be alerted first by television. And even if there is a sever weather watch, I don’t think the sirens go off for that unless there was severe tornados or hurricanes, something in that nature. I’m almost 99 percent sure that the siren you heard was in response to a fire call
maybe but i the sky …
maybe but i the sky is that dark then u’ed think red danger “red danger = Doom’s day”
maybe theyre …
maybe theyre warning for both
it was imminet …
it was imminet danger BUT to me it sound’s like Red danger siren
A severe …
A severe thunderstorm warning is usually EAS only in most places. Tornados are normally what most places warrant as worthy of siren activation.
Talbot Emergency …
Talbot Emergency Management NOW says the Imminent Danger Signal is 6 seconds up and 2 seconds down (not 20 up 2 down, which they told me last week). No one seems to know what the Fire Department siren is, but if you count along with the sirens in this video you get about 5 seconds up 3 seconds down. How are we supposed to differentiate between the two sounds? They also told me that Imminent Danger would NOT sound for a national weather service severe thunderstorm warning? Why not?
Sweet vid
Sweet vid
Actually, it’s a …
Actually, it’s a Screamer and a Model 5. That one with the really quick windup and lower tone is the 9-port S5 Screamer.
nope, its a banshee …
nope, its a banshee and a model 5
weather emergency …
weather emergency siren (great video).I also have one from weeks ago..