MCARTHUR, Ohio — Vinton County residents will hear the county’s outdoor warning sirens sound at noon on Aug. 31 as the Vinton County Emergency Management Agency conducts its regular monthly test of the system.
The agency announced the test in a post on its Facebook page, urging residents with questions about the test or other emergency management matters in Vinton County to call its office at 740-596-3524.
Vinton County tests its outdoor warning sirens on the last Monday of each month at noon, and Aug. 31 is the final Monday of August. Regular testing allows emergency officials to confirm the sirens are working and ready to alert the public in an actual emergency, such as a tornado or other severe weather. Residents who hear the sirens that day do not need to take shelter or call 911, as the activation is part of routine testing rather than a response to an actual emergency.
Outdoor warning sirens are designed to be heard by people who are outside, prompting them to seek shelter and turn to local media, a weather radio or a mobile phone for more information. They are not intended to be heard clearly indoors, and officials encourage residents to have more than one way to receive emergency alerts.
The Vinton County Emergency Management Agency, led by Director William Faught, coordinates the county’s planning for and response to natural disasters and other emergencies, including maintaining the county’s all-hazards emergency operations plan and coordinating training for first responders and the public. An executive committee of county and township officials oversees the agency’s operations. Vinton County has been designated a StormReady county by the National Weather Service, a program that recognizes communities with strong severe-weather preparedness plans, including dependable public warning systems.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Vinton County Emergency Management Agency.
