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Rural Dallas County to modify Outdoor Warning Siren Criteria to include
70MPH+ winds, effective October 1, 2020.

The Dallas County Emergency Management Commission recently established a
workgroup involving the National Weather Service to evaluate and consider
whether rural Dallas County should modify existing outdoor warning siren
activation criteria to include 70 mile per hour wind. After careful
consideration of neighboring county outdoor warning siren policies, case
analysis and discussion on over-alerting, the workgroup instructed the
Emergency Management Agency to make a recommendation for Dallas County
communities that currently only include tornado warnings in their activation
criteria to begin including 70 mile per hour winds during severe
thunderstorm warnings. Following engagement from each jurisdiction, this
change will become effective October 1, 2020.

The established workgroup considered several factors surrounding activation
many of which centered on one common concern, public confusion hinders
response.
There is mounting evidence to support that 70 mile per hour wind produces
equally damaging effects as a weak tornado (EF-0). As we seen recently, some
storms create straight-line winds, which often have far wider geographic
impact than tornadoes. These wind speeds have been known to be well in
excess of 70 miles per hour and peel the surface off some roofs, break large
branches from trees, damage gutters and siding, push over shallow-rooted
trees and turn unsecured lawn furniture and other items into dangerous
projectiles. Far from an over-dramatization of the threat, the potential for
serious injury to unsheltered persons from 70mph winds are comparable to
that of an EF-0 tornado.

Historical research of weather records from the National Climatic Data
Center over the last 15 years indicate that on average, the sirens would be
activated one additional time per year for severe thunderstorms with winds
at or exceeding 70mph. This research alleviated the concern that we would be
desensitizing the public by overuse of the sirens.

The intent of this change is to increase public perception of the outdoor
warning system by providing a consistent and county-wide approach. It is
important to remember that outdoor warning sirens are only intended to alert
those outdoors to take shelter and seek more information. Outdoor warning
sirens are not designed to be heard inside structures. Once in a place of
shelter, individuals should monitor any source of information they have
available, common methods include, television, radio, internet, mobile
device and NOAA weather alert radios.

Please note that this change only affects the communities of Van Meter,
Desoto, Dexter, Redfield, Adel, Dallas Center, Linden, Dawson, Perry,
Minburn, Bouton and Woodward. The remainder of communities with jurisdiction
within Dallas County have included the 70 mile per hour threshold for
several years.

​

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  • Welcome to Minburn
    • Contacts
    • Library Info >
      • Minburn Moments
  • City Hall
    • Online Payments
    • City Council Minutes & Agendas
    • City Newsletter
    • GRINDER ALARM
    • Ordinances
    • Public Works
    • Resolutions
    • Utilities & Services
    • Notice of Public Hearings
    • Public Safety
  • ANNOUNCEMENT
  • Our Community
    • Food Pantry
    • Freedom Rock
    • Business Listing
    • Minburn Depot
    • Photos >
      • About MCBG