CAMDENTON, Mo. — To better ensure the notification for the citizens and visitors of the City of Camdenton about dangerous weather, the following will be guidelines for the activation and testing of the City of Camdenton storm sirens. Storm sirens are only intended to warn persons who may be outside and who are not able to be notified of severe weather by regular means, such as weather radio or the news media. Everyone is urged to own an operational weather radio.
Training of Personnel:
The National Weather Service provides weather spotting classes free of charge. Emergency personnel will be encouraged to attend a weather spotting class. By attending this training emergency personnel will be better equipped to accurately recognize dangerous weather conditions and better protect the citizens and visitors of City of Camdenton.
Monitor:
Upon receipt of notification of potential imminent severe weather (Severe Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Warning) from the National Weather Service, Camden County Dispatch and/or the Camden County Emergency Management Director will notify law enforcement and fire personnel so that they can monitor weather conditions around the City of Camdenton.
Activation:
Just the issuance of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning/Watch or a Tornado Warning/Watch for Camden County is NOT sufficient reason to activate the City of Camdenton storm sirens.
The Camden County Dispatch will be used to activate the City of Camdenton's storm sirens and will use FEMA approved tones …. Camden County Dispatch will activate the storm sirens for any of the following criteria:
1. If notification is received from the National Weather Service that a tornado warning has been issued for or will impact Camdenton/City of Camdenton. If notification is received from the National Weather Service that a tornado warning polygon includes or will impact Camdenton/City of Camdenton. If notification is received from the National Weather Service that radar indicates a tornado, rotation, or the possibility of a tornado forming to approach or will impact Camdenton/City of Camdenton.
2. If emergency personnel observe conditions that indicate the possibility of a tornado on the ground, a tornado forming, rotation or debris in the air approaching or will impact City of Camdenton.
3. If notification is received from the National Weather Service that indicates winds of 70 MPH or greater is approaching or will impact Camdenton/City of Camdenton. If weather conditions are observed indicating winds of 70 MPH or greater (confirmed wind damage/tree or structure) is approaching or will impact City of Camdenton.
4. Reports are received of a storm approaching or will impact Camdenton/ City of Camdenton that has produced an unwarned tornado that has damaged trees and/or structures. This situation would not be accompanied by a National Weather Service tornado warning, and thus a polygon would not be available to indicate the storm's motion.
5. If in doubt, activate the City of Camdenton storm sirens.
If one of the above criteria are met, Camden County Dispatch shall notify the Camdenton Police Department that the City of Camdenton storm sirens will be activated. The Camdenton Police Department will inform Camden County Dispatch a confirmation when the City of Camdenton storm sirens are activated.
In the rare event that Camden County Dispatch is unable to activate the City of Camdenton storm sirens, Camden County Dispatch will immediately notify the Camdenton Police Department so other arrangements can be made to activate the City of Camdenton storm sirens from a backup location(s).
Once the City of Camdenton storm sirens are activated for one of the above criteria, it will be the responsibility of the citizens and visitors of the City of Camdenton to take proper shelter. There are no community storm shelters available. It will also be the responsibility of the citizens and visitors of the City of Camdenton to monitor current and changing weather conditions through the National Weather Service and or their weather radio. The City of Camdenton storm sirens do not issue or activate an "all clear" notification once the hazardous conditions have pasted.
Testing:
To ensure that the City of Camdenton storm sirens are functioning properly, a monthly test will be performed to check their operation. The normal monthly City of Camdenton storm siren test will be performed on the first Tuesday of the month between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
On occasion the City of Camdenton storm sirens may be activated more than once during this testing time. Activating the City of Camdenton storm sirens during testing will be done by Camden County Dispatch on even months of the calendar year and by the backup location(s) on odd months of the calendar year. On occasion, the test may be performed/activated from both locations during the same scheduled test day causing the City of Camdenton storm sirens to be activated more than once during this testing time.
During scheduled City of Camdenton storm siren test, an attempt will be made to have personnel at each storm siren location to verify that each storm sirens operation. Currently there are four (4) City of Camdenton storm siren locations; Blair Avenue, Hazel Street, North Business Route 5 at the water tower and Elm Tree Lane.
The testing will be postponed or cancelled if:
• There is severe weather in the area at the time of the test
• There are other emergencies occurring at the test time occupying emergency personnel or Camden County Dispatch
Maintenance:
In order to maintain the readiness of the City of Camdenton storm siren system, the storm siren system will be serviced and preventative maintenance completed twice a calendar year by a certified Whelen representative. Testing and maintenance records will be the responsibility of the Camdenton Fire Chief and kept at the Camdenton Fire Department. Any failures, repairs, upgrades or changes will be reported to the City of Camdenton (City Administrator and City Clerk) so repairs, changes or upgrades can be made or scheduled.
