Local community emergency sirens exist throughout LaPorte County to warn citizens of impending severe weather. The weather warning sirens will be activated when conditions exist during extreme severe weather and when possible funnel clouds or a tornado has been spotted in or approaching the community, and confirmed by a certified spotter. Other conditions may also warrant sounding the sirens. The siren system is only intended to be an adjunct warning tool. The citizen's response is to be aware of possible severe weather in the area, monitor local conditions, and be prepared to act to seek shelter and tune in to local radio or televisions stations for further information or instructions.
Monthly siren tests are held each month at 11:00 A.M. Central Time, on the 1st Saturday of every month. The testing is a part of normal maintenance and no general public action is necessary. The LaPorte County Emergency Management Agency performs these tests as a public service at 33 locations throughout the county, listed below, (excluding the Michigan City area which is served by the Michigan City EMA office). The LaPorte 911 office transmits a radio signal that activates the sirens. Reports from amateur radio operators are taken on the K9JSI Repeater by Bob, N9ROM and test results are relayed to the EMA office. Any resident can participate by reporting the operation of any siren via telephone to the LaPorte County EMA Director's office at (219) 362-7210 at the conclusion of the test, or shortly afterwards.
The siren report includes 3 important pieces of information.
1) The location of the siren observed.
2) A good judgment of the volume of the siren. (e.g., is it adequately loud enough? or has its volume weakened from previous tests?)
3) For those sirens which rotate, is the siren rotation working correctly, (e.g., normal, slow or erratic, or no rotation)?
If you are an amateur radio operator and free on the Saturday morning of the test, and would like to volunteer in assisting with siren testing, please contact Bob, N9ROM on the K9JSI repeater frequency. Also, during the day of testing, starting at 9:00 A.M. Central Time and periodically until the test begins, Bob will announce for volunteers to report-in prior to commencement of the tests for observation assignments.
LIST OF SIREN LOCATIONS:
1. Austenal
2. Beechwood
3. Bluffside
4. Kroger Lot
5. Craven Pond
6. Fire Station #1
7. Hailman School
8. McClung Road
9. Whirlpool Lot
10. Fairgrounds
11. Wanatah
12. Coolspring FD #1
13. Noble Twp
14. Kankakee FD
15. Kingsbury FD
16. Kingsford Union
17. Lacrosse
18. Lincoln Twp Fish Lake
19. Lincoln Twp Mill Creek
20. Long Beech
21. Springfield Twp
22. Pleasant Twp (Stillwell FD)
23. Purdue
24. Springfield Twp (Eastside Produce)
25. Westville
26. Springfield Twp FD
27. Springfield Twp 39/20
28. Springfield Twp 925
29. Summit
30. Hanna
31. Prairie View School
32. New Prairie H.S.
33. New Durham (Hwy 421 Westville)
