TALLADEGA COUNTY, Ala. – In a Facebook post earlier today, the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency announced it will conduct an audible test of the outdoor warning siren system today, Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 4:00 p.m.
The Talladega County Outdoor Warning System consists of 88 sirens designed to alert and notify the general population in outdoor areas of imminent or existing emergency situations. When sirens are activated, citizens should seek shelter indoors and tune to local news sources to gain further information on the emergency situation.
The Talladega County EMA will conduct an audible test of the Outdoor Warning Siren System promptly on the first Tuesday of every month at 4:00 p.m., if weather permits. In addition to the audible test, the Talladega County EMA conducts silent tests every Monday and Friday.
The system is a supplemental warning system, designed to warn those who are outside. As a supplemental warning system, it may not always be audible inside homes, buildings with a high ambient noise level, or when you are sleeping. The system is designed on a polygon warning and will only sound in your geographic area if you are in the general path of a tornado. It is strongly recommended by the National Weather Service and Talladega County EMA to have multiple ways to receive alerts.
As a primary means of warning, purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio is strongly encouraged for every home and business. They are available from a variety of retailers, and they typically cost anywhere from $30 to $80. These weather radios sit silently until the National Weather Service issues a warning, at which time the radio will sound an alarm, followed by the specific warning message. The Weather Radios can easily be configured to warn the hearing and visually impaired. NOAA Weather Radios are not designed for polygon warnings at this time, but will send a warning county-wide. In addition to NOAA Weather Radios, Talladega County EMA encourages residents to follow it on Facebook and Twitter, as well as the U.S. National Weather Service – Birmingham on Facebook and Twitter. It is also recommended to download the Alabama Saf-T-Net app on your phone and text your ZIP code to 888777 to receive mobile alerts.
