News Flash

Pingree Grove News

Posted on: May 26, 2020

Tornado Sirens and Severe Weather: What you need to know!

Severe Weather and Outdoor Warning Sirens

It’s that time of year where we get severe weather in Illinois, and we also get a lot of questions about our "Tornado Sirens".  One of the most frequent comments that residents make regarding the sirens is that the residents cannot hear the sirens from inside their homes.  For example, last week the Village experienced the potential for severe weather, and a tornado warning was issued--which caused the Village’s sirens to activate late at night...and in the days that followed, many residents commented that they did not hear the sirens and slept through the event.  Today’s post shares some critical information that you need to know about severe weather and warning sirens.

outdoor warning sirens are not meant to be heard indoors:

Tornado sirens are more properly referred to as Outdoor Warning Sirens (OWS).  If you’re interested in taking a deep dive, check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) page on OWS, available here.  With modern building construction, homes have extensive insulation, double and triple-pane glass, and other features that help isolate outside noise.  These same features work against anyone trying to hear an OWS from inside their house.  Unless you are incredibly close to an OWS, you will not be able to hear it from indoors.  According to NOAA, "Sirens are an outdoor warning system designed only to alert those who are outside that something dangerous is approaching."

The Village only has a limited number of OWS:

OWS cost roughly $30,000-50,000 per tower for initial construction, plus additional costs to operate and maintain them.  The Village only has a limited number, and they were positioned in areas that were thought to be best for notifying users of the Village’s larger open space areas (i.e. people that were outside).  It is not possible to install enough OWS to blanket all of the Village, or to make the sirens audible from inside every resident’s home.  If you can hear it from inside your home, that’s a rarity.

In the recent storm event, one siren failed to activate.  Our sirens are remotely triggered by a 911 dispatch center.  We are working through troubleshooting with that dispatch center to confirm why the siren did not activate, and to resolve the issue.

what can we do to prepare for severe weather?

There are some free applications available for smartphones, that offer severe weather warnings.  However, both the Village and NOAA strongly recommend that every home should have an NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio.  There are many companies that offer these radios, and they can be very easily programmed with your location (country, state and county), so that when NOAA issues alerts, the weather will activate.  It is like a fire detector for severe weather, notifying you of approaching storms.  The radios are often customizable so that you can determine what alerts you do want to hear (e.g. tornado watch/warning, severe thunderstorm watch/warning) and what alerts you may be less interested in hearing (e.g. frost warning, etc.).  

There are six weather radio frequencies, and you can select which frequency offers the best signal at your location.  Typically, weather radios in Pingree Grove work best on Weather Channel #5 (162.500mHz), as that transmitter is located in nearby Crystal Lake.  There are many reputable companies that offer alert weather radios, and a quality radio can be had for $30 or less.  Programming takes all of five minutes, and sets the radio for your unique needs.  While we do not endorse any specific manufacturer, here is one example of an emergency alert weather radio that one of our employees has in his office at the Municipal Center:

Weather Radio

With a properly programmed radio, you can activate the local weather forecast (via radio) at any time.  In the event of severe weather, the radio should alert with a loud sound, and start playing the severe weather alert message.  This gives your family an invaluable time warning to seek shelter.  Most emergency weather radios include a battery backup, so that they continue to operate even during power outages. 

what else can we do to be prepared?

Check out NOAA’s website on severe weather preparation and tornado safety, available here, as well as their second page on the topic, available here.  

Evaluate where the best place to seek shelter from a storm is, in advance of any severe weather.  While a safe, corner location in a basement is preferable, if your home does not have a basement, consider using a closet or other enclosed area on an interior wall (preferably on the east side of the home).  If possible, stock this location with some supplies, such as emergency lighting, water, a spare pair of shoes, a leash for your pet(s), a battery-powered weather radio, and an emergency cell phone charger that is battery powered.  The most critical thing to do during a storm is seek shelter, in a predetermined, safe area as mentioned above. Once in place, hold on and protect your head. Always stay away from windows and open spaces. If you are in a vehicle or trailer, get out immediately and go to a more substantial structure. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine or culvert with your hands shielding your head. 

Is the Village considering installing more ows?

As noted above, OWS are of very limited usefulness for residents that are indoors.  While we are always evaluating ways of making our community safer, the Village is not presently considering the installation of additional OWS.

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Pingree Grove News

Heritage Holiday Lane

Heritage Holiday Lane

Posted on: November 17, 2023
Electric Parade Application

Electric Holiday Parade

Posted on: November 14, 2023
Holiday Train

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway

Posted on: October 23, 2023
Census Jobs

Special Census May 2024

Posted on: October 18, 2023
Community Gardens

Community Gardens

Posted on: October 17, 2023
Trick or Treat

Halloween Trick or Treat Hours

Posted on: October 3, 2023
Everbridge Announcement3

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

Posted on: September 28, 2023
Public Open House Reinking Rd Roundabout Aug 7, 2023 6:00 to 7:00 pm

Public Open House

Posted on: July 28, 2023
Water Leak

Community Garden

Posted on: July 20, 2023
July 28 keicher office hours flyer Pingree Grove

State Rep Jeff Keicher

Posted on: July 18, 2023
Townhall Rep Krishnamoorthi

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi

Posted on: April 19, 2023
Controlled Burn notice

CONTROLLED BURN - PARKSIDE CL NORTH

Posted on: April 11, 2023
reminder 400x300

Friendly Reminders

Posted on: March 23, 2023
website_refresh_400x300_newsflash

Website Update - Check Us Out!

Posted on: March 21, 2023
Utility Billing Schedule 2023

UTILITY BILLING CALENDAR

Posted on: March 1, 2023
phone outage

Municipal Center Telephone Outage

Posted on: January 3, 2023
Warming Centers

Warming Centers Available in Kane County

Posted on: December 22, 2022

Utility Billing - Due Date Change

Posted on: December 21, 2022

Municipal Center Closed

Posted on: December 19, 2022
Holiday Train Parking

Holiday Train Event Parking

Posted on: November 30, 2022
Canadian Pacific Reinking Rd

Canadian Pacific Railroad Crossing

Posted on: November 11, 2022

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

Posted on: November 10, 2022
2022 Open House Invite2

Village Town Hall Meeting

Posted on: October 18, 2022
Water Irrigation

Winterizing Water Irrigation System

Posted on: October 14, 2022

Village Now Hiring!

Posted on: September 27, 2022

Senator DeWitte's Traveling Office Hours

Posted on: September 22, 2022

Snow Removal affecting Mailboxes

Posted on: December 31, 2020
Fall 2020 Newsletter photo

What's Good in the Grove?

Posted on: November 17, 2020
The Milk House - Pingree Grove

The Milk House is Illinois Made!

Posted on: November 10, 2020
caution_alert

Community Safety Alert

Posted on: June 3, 2020
VPGLogobrownAPlacetoGrow_resized

Virtual Public Meetings Tonight!

Posted on: May 18, 2020
Pool plat

All About Swimming Pools

Posted on: May 5, 2020

PLAYGROUNDS ARE CLOSED. PLEASE HELP.

Posted on: April 2, 2020
covid-19-1330px

COVID-19 Update

Posted on: April 1, 2020

(Help Us) Look After Your Neighbors

Posted on: March 20, 2020
Census

Census: Get Counted--It Benefits YOU!

Posted on: March 11, 2020
CDC Handwashing

Kane County Coronavirus Update

Posted on: March 10, 2020
lift station

NEVER Flush a Flushable!

Posted on: March 3, 2020
Dead End Sign

Upcoming Gate Closure on Upland

Posted on: November 20, 2019
Dollar Photo 110719

REAL Truth in Taxation

Posted on: November 7, 2019
Census form

Census Work Begins in Pingree Grove

Posted on: September 4, 2019
Trailer, for sale or rent

Village-Owned Property For Sale!

Posted on: August 22, 2019
Mailbox Repost

This Mailbox Deserves a Repost

Posted on: August 21, 2019
Wastewater Treatment Plant

Pingree Grows Presentation

Posted on: July 17, 2019
Mailbox Post Below Ground

PSA: A Post about Posts...

Posted on: July 5, 2019
Park Repair and Slide Replacement

Park Closure: Skate Park Playground

Posted on: June 26, 2019
New Plantings at Municipal Center

Yes, We're Moving. Really.

Posted on: June 21, 2019

We Need Your Help (and Photos)!

Posted on: June 24, 2019
Newly Rehabilitated Snow Plow Truck

Look at our New (Old) Truck!

Posted on: June 14, 2019