Crystal Lake : Outdoor Warning Sirens

In an effort to plan for tornado events, the City recently completed the installation of a new Outdoor Warning Siren System. The project replaces the current eight (8) outdoor emergency warning sirens with fifteen (15) new sirens. The new sirens will allow for a more effective activation system and testing method, greater maintenance abilities and more extensive siren coverage throughout the City of Crystal Lake.

Following the steps outlined below can minimize the possibility of death or injury during severe weather. Share these tips with your families, and practice a tornado drill in your home this week. Knowing the basics of tornado safety can help you to survive a tornado event.

Why are they called outdoor warning sirens?
The sirens are called outdoor warning sirens because their primary purpose is to alert people who are outside to severe weather. The system is not designed to provide notification inside of your home or business. The location, design and performance of the siren system is intended to provide a warning to people who are outdoors to take cover.

What should I do if I hear an outdoor warning siren?
If you hear an outdoor warning siren you should seek shelter inside immediately. Once inside, you should turn on a television or radio to learn further information. Local officials will be disseminating information about the emergency through these outlets.

What can I do to be notified of an impending tornado inside my home or business?
Every home or business should be equipped with a NOAA Weather Radio. In the event of a watch or warning, most NOAA Weather Radios sound an alarm and turn on automatically. When they are not dispensing watch and warning information, these valuable tools will provide you with detailed forecast information. Many NOAA Weather Radios are equipped with digital S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology. This allows the radio to be programmed to receive automatic warnings specific to McHenry County. Click here for more information regarding NOAA Weather Radios.

When are outdoor warning sirens activated?
The outdoor warning sirens are activated when a public safety officer (police, fire or EMS) or trained spotter reports SIGHTING a funnel cloud or tornado in or near the Southeast Emergency Communications (SEECOM) dispatch service area. The sirens are also activated when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for southeast McHenry County when the area is in the track of the storm. The SEECOM dispatch service area includes the municipalities of Algonquin, Cary and Crystal Lake.

When should I expect to hear testing of the outdoor warning sirens?
The outdoor warning sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. for a one minute duration. The sirens produce a loud steady tone during the monthly test as well as during an actual tornado warning.

Will the new sirens sound different from the old sirens?
The new sirens are louder and have a different tone/sound. Visit Federal Warning systems to hear the tone of the new sirens.

What is the difference between a Watch and a Warning?
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means that severe weather is possible. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means that severe weather is in the immediate area.

A Tornado Watch means that conditions are present that could produce a tornado. A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted, and that you should prepare to seek shelter. The sirens will only be activated for a tornado warning or if a trained spotter reports a funnel cloud or an actual tornado.

In either case, listen to the radio or television for updates.

Will the sirens provide an "All Clear" signal?
No. If the City of Crystal Lake is threatened by a tornado, the sirens will be activated. Any "ALL CLEAR" information is provided by the local news media. The sirens will NOT be activated to indicate an "ALL CLEAR".

Where are the sirens located?
The new sirens are strategically located to provide the optimal coverage area for all City residents. Previously, the City had eight (8) sirens located in the City. The new fifteen (15) siren system re-uses five of the previous sites. The sirens on the former sites will be removed.

506 Highland Ave. (Lift Station next to South Elementary School)
7701 Virginia Road. (Fire Station #3, Virginia Road and Pyott Road)
1100 Alexandra Blvd. (Woodscreek Elementary School, Alexandra and Driftwood)
Bryn Mawr and Route 176
8900 Route 14. (McHenry County College)
Edgewater & Lake Avenue. (Lift station)
500 Woodstock Street. (North Elementary School)
6000 Dvorak. (Prairie Ridge High School)
River Birch Blvd. & Carpathian (Water tower behind Sherman Family Health Care on Route 31)
515 E. Crystal Lake Ave. (Hannah Beardsley Middle School)
Route 31 & Lutter. (Lift Station behind Pauly Toyota car dealership)
8705 Bard Road (Fire Station #4)
100 W. Woodstock Street (City Municipal Complex)
650 Pointe Drive (Pingree Road/Pointe Drive Lift Station)
1100 Coventry Lane (Wastewater Plant #2)

Click for a copy of the Crystal Lake Sire Coverage Map May 7, 2008

The three sites that have been removed and relocated are:

West Elementary School, 70 Briarwood Road
1434 Bridgedale at Westport (Park)
Palmer House, 660 Terra Cotta Road at Route 176

Why not keep the three old sirens?
The old sirens have surpassed their useful mechanical life. The reason the new sirens were purchased and installed was that it was becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain the old sirens as well as to ensure their reliability. Additionally, the new sirens provide an integrated SCADA (Supervised Control and Data Acquisition) technology which the old sirens do not provide. The SCADA technology is a two-way digital status monitoring system, which provides for supervised siren activation and control while monitoring the status of siren motor activation current, siren head rotation status, AC power, back-up battery voltage condition, control cabinet intrusion and communication status.

Where can I get more information when the sirens are activated?
The area media and the National Weather Service will provide updated information. Please do NOT call 911 when you hear the siren. Please use your television or radio to get these updates.

Where do I go in case of a tornado?
If a tornado has been sighted, take cover in the safest place possible. A basement is always the first choice.

Building with a basement. Go to the basement. Stay away from windows and chimneys. Hide under the stairs or heavy furniture. Cover your head.

Building without a basement. Go to the lowest level in the central portion of the building. The first choice is an interior closet, bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Cover your head. In all cases you should have a flashlight and a battery operated radio with you. Keep your keys with you. They can disappear in a tornado.

Shopping Center or Large Building. Look for a pre-designated shelter. If you don't see one, go to the middle hallway on the lowest level. Cover your head.

Mobile Home or Car. Leave at once and find shelter in a building. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert with your hands over your head.

What can I do to prepare for emergencies?
The Police and Fire Rescue personnel of the City of Crystal Lake have compiled an Emergency Preparedness Guide to help Crystal Lake residents prepare for natural and/or man-made disasters. For a copy of the emergency preparedness guide click here Emergency Preparedness Guide.

Where can I get more information?

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Last updated: 8/5/2009 7:47:13 AM