Rowan County along with numerous fire departments across the county cooperatively operate and maintain an outdoor warning siren system that will be tested Saturday.

This siren system serves two purposes — to provide outdoor notification of the issuance of a tornado warning in Rowan County and in some selected locations to alert firefighters to a call in their district. A different siren tone is used for each of these alerts/warnings. The Rowan County Telecommunications 911 Center activates the siren network.

“It is important to remember that the outdoor warning sirens are designed to be heard outside” said Frank Thomason, chief of Emergency Services.

“Our Emergency Management Division still recommends that weather alert radios be used inside homes and businesses. The sirens are in place to help provide an additional method of public notification and warning,” Thomason said.

While the same physical siren is used for both types of alerts, each has the ability to emit two different tones. For a tornado warning, the siren will emit a steady, unwavering tone for three continuous minutes. For firefighter alerts, the siren will emit a wavering, up and down wailing tone, that may last anywhere from one to approximately five minutes. The tornado warning sirens are tested quarterly, weather permitting, on the first Saturday of the months of January, April, July and October at noon.

For more information on tornado and severe weather preparedness, visit www.ReadyROWAN.org or contact the Emergency Management Division with Rowan County Emergency Services at 704-216-8900.