Tornado season is upon us once again and, as such, next week marks Severe Weather Awareness Week across the state.
The goal is to educate the public about proper safety precautions, but according to SKYWARN member Ed Peters, they aren’t the only ones needing the education.
‘To me, this is a safety need for the township,? said Peters, who works closely with Oakland County’s Emergency Operations Center.
He noted that there are several gaps across the township where warning sirens cannot be heard.
‘What used to be farmland is now subdivisions,? he said. ‘The placement of sirens hasn’t kept up with the development of our area.?
Peters said there are areas, particularly along Clarkston Road and near some township borders, where sirens routinely go unheard. In these ‘fringe areas? like Clarkston/Hemingway and Clarkston/Kern, sirens can usually be heard on a clear day, but something as simple as high winds or traffic noise can prevent warnings from being acknowledged.
‘During the last tornado warning, I had to go tell my neighbor to stop mowing his lawn and take shelter because he couldn’t hear the sirens,? Peters recalled.
He noted that several areas along the Paint Creek Trail, which attracts 66,000 people a year, are ‘fringe areas,? at best.
To help with the problem, Trustee John Garlicki said he will bring an agenda item forward at Monday’s board meeting, just in time for Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk and Fire Chief Jeff Key have also been discussing the issue.
About 10-percent of township residents live in areas not covered by an existing siren.
According to Peters, the township pays about $16,000 of the estimated $22,500 cost for a siren. The county picks up the rest of the bill and handles siren maintenance.
Siren testing is usually done on the first Saturday of the month, but in April it will be conducted on Wednesday, April 9 at 11:30 a.m., as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
For those able, Peters suggests going outside just prior to 11:30 and listening for the siren. If you can’t hear the siren, contact the Oakland County Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness at (248)858-5300.