The pleasant warble of an air raid
Did anyone hear the siren test today at 1 p.m.? Unfortunately, I am traveling, so I missed it, but Tim heard the blast (and appropriately texted me, thanks.)
Why am I posting about sirens? A few weeks ago we woke up to hi-lo wailing on a Sunday morning, so we looked up Ann Arbor’s warning system to find out what the racket was about. I was sort of amazed to find that there are 22 sirens located throughout the city that sound for lots of various reasons (tornados, nuclear attack, hazmat spill, etc.)
I was brainstorming all the nerdy things we could do using these sirens as checkpoints for a race, or points for a scavenger hunt, or city tour, or we could calculate the point at which the sirens would be the loudest and go listen during the test – something good will come out of these spinning horns. For now, I leave you this map* of the sirens.
Keep an eye out around town, you’ll be surprised what you see once you begin looking.
*sorry, I’m in Texas, and I’m bored.
August 17th, 2007 at 12:06 am
I did hear the sirens and I thought “well, what now?” When exactly do they test those things? It seems to have no rhyme or reason. Or maybe I just never pay attention to emergencies.
Anyhow:
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rcctc
The link to my program. Syllabus is to come soon. Thank you!!!
August 17th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
they test sirens on the second tuesday of the month at 1?
i plan to organize an outdoor siren lunch for the next one.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:11 am
beca, i will tell you all about the sirens. first of all, the sirens are tested
on the 2nd tuesday of every month for 1 minute using the steady tone. it will sound for 3 minutes during an actual emergency. the siren model is the federal signal 2001 siren. the bullhorns will spin 360 degrees to provide better sound coverage. during a test, the sirens are sounded at 1:00 pm, there is no all clear siren. do you remember the day the sky turned green a few years ago(back in 2005 i belive). so just keep a eye on the clock, so if it 1 pm, dont be afraid. i thought you should know, there is the tornado sirens, but there is no fire siren. our fire department is a paid fire department, it is not volunteer. did you know that the fire department in downtown ann arbor(? n fith ave)has a button in the
station and one of the employees will turn the sirens on. i think that this is all for now. by beca.