Tornado Siren Testing

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Each spring, the state of Ohio coordinates tornado siren testing to ensure that the severe weather warning devices are fully operational.

Muskingum County Emergency Management Director Jeff Jadwin explained how his agency is preparing to meet the state mandate.

“The state has scheduled the time for tomorrow, the 18th, at 9:50 a.m. They want all the schools and all the counties to test their sirens. So the schools need to do their tornado drill tomorrow. We’re a little concerned about the weather as far as the cold because it could affect the ability of the siren to rotate like it should. But the state did send out the notice, we’re doing it tomorrow,” Jadwin said.

Ohio has designated March 15th through the 21st, as Severe Weather Awareness Week and schedules the outdoor alert system testing, which warns people when dangerous weather events are happening in their proximity.

“Starting the 25th and then going through the summer, the siren tests that we do is weekly at 12 noon. And all these tests are weather dependent on that there’s no tornado watch or severe thunderstorm watch or warning in effect for our area. If it’s just lightly raining, we’re going to go ahead with the test,” Jadwin said.

Muskingum County has 48 fixed sirens that are placed at the county’s most concentrated population centers. Jadwin said each siren costs in excess of $15,000 dollars and are most effective within an approximate 1-mile radius.