1 day Ago By Caleb Powell
In the quiet suburb of Germantown, the sudden wail of a weather siren is like a communal heartbeat momentarily quickened by the threat of nature's fury, but residents may not always understand the when or the why of these alarms. The city has provided clarity: Germantown's weather sirens sound only with the National Weather Service's issuance of a tornado warning, ones that specifically include Germantown within the official warning area, which may explain why neighboring regions often hear sirens while Germantown remains silent, as they are not under the same polygonal purview, according to the official City of Germantown communications.To ensure no resident is left unalerted, the city champions a multi-tiered approach to emergency notifications; forewarning of extreme weather conditions is urged through an enrollment in the Germantown Alert system—a direct line to safety that vibrates within your pocket, delivering text alerts regarding impending danger.
Citizens desiring to take this proactive measure toward personal safety can sign up at the City of Germantown website or call for assistance and are encouraged to supplement this service with weather apps, NOAA weather radios, and staying tuned in to local news broadcasts for real-time updates.The weekly piercing test tones heard on Saturdays at noon are just routine checks to make sure the City of Germantown sirens are working properly. This helps ensure they will be ready in case of a real emergency.
The tests are only skipped if there's a risk of severe weather. The City of Germantown says this system helps avoid confusion, so people don’t mistake the test for an actual warning..
