News release: Outdoor siren upgrade in progress across Hennepin County
HENNEPIN COUNTY, Minnesota – A project to improve the control system of the largest coordinated outdoor alarm siren system in Minnesota (and among the largest in the United States) is underway in Hennepin County. The nearly 300 city-owned sirens countywide will receive a new, modernized control system. The county owned and operated system improves precision warning to significantly reduce areas receiving spill-over false alarms. The new system will also provide faster and more reliable operating and maintenance data to improve readiness and reliability.
The transition from the current system to new requires several months of testing. The current system will not be decommissioned until the new system is fully functional. County and vendor technicians are working to minimize the likelihood the public will notice the two control systems are operating at the same time. The monthly tests held at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month will continue and both systems will be tested simultaneously. Residents should hear no differences on typical test/drill days.
As the work moves across the county, the public may occasionally hear brief “growl tests” of 10-15 seconds meant to test individual sirens in their neighborhoods. Notices of these tests come from both city and county sources (email communications, etc.). During monthly drills, some residents may notice minor changes or delays in siren sounds. These are not malfunctions. Instead, they are the effects of technicians working to fit two systems' tests into the same time period.
Additional ways to receive warnings
Outdoor alarm sirens are just one of many public warning tools we use to warn residents of danger. This is a good time to make sure you have many ways to receive warnings, including:
- Warning apps (such as Red Cross Mobile Apps)
- Portable radios tuned to local stations
- Local broadcast and cable television
- "Weather radio" alarm monitoring system
Some of these devices have optional assistive features that help those with hearing or sight challenges get fast warnings. Those with special language needs should consider monitoring Twin Cities PBS’s “TPT Now” broadcast which immediately provide warning messages in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.
Strengthening countywide emergency preparedness
Hennepin County, in coordination with our cities, and with the National Weather Service and other authorities, continues to invest in and improve our public warning system. Warning system improvements are designed to bring more locational accuracy, faster activation, and clearer messaging, all while ensuring system reliability and redundancy. Hennepin County and its partners are committed to providing vital warnings that help you make informed actions to keep you and your loved ones safe.
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