Tornado siren testing starting soon

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Muskingum County starts their weekly tornado siren testing on Wednesday March 7, 2018 at noon.

Annually starting in March the county will start weekly testing on all 44 of the sirens to make sure they’re functioning well. Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Jadwin said they have 43 stationary sirens and 1 portable siren.

“As soon as we know one’s not working then we pull the portable siren in there to be a replacement for it until it’s repaired,” Jadwin explained. “Sometimes it’s a major repair and it’s got to be taken down and sent into the shops. So you know that’s why we have the portable.”

According to Jadwin there have already been tornadoes spotted in Ohio this winter and tornado season hasn’t even started yet. So people will need to pay attention to the tornado sirens during bad weather.

“If people hear the tornado sirens going off they need to take cover,” Jadwin advised. “They need to tune into the local media, to the radio stations, tv, see what the warning is, but go to a room in your house that doesn’t have windows.”

Jadwin suggested people stay in their basements, if they have one. If not small windowless rooms are the next best option. Larger rooms are more likely to collapse according to Jadwin.

“If you’re out on the road, pullover, get down into a ditch and cover up until the tornado has passed by,” said Jadwin.

After the first two weeks of siren testing taking place every Wednesday at noon, the time will switch on March 21, 2018 to 9:50 A.M. for the Statewide Disaster Drill. Then starting March 28, 2018 the time will revert back to noon.