Emergency Outdoor Warning System

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Natchitoches Parish Emergency Outdoor Warning System

The 9-1-1 District owns and operates the Natchitoches Parish Emergency Outdoor Warning System. This system is comprised of 19 siren sites, strategically located throughout the parish and used to warn citizens and visitors of impending severe weather or other threats to their safety. The system was used successfully during eleven emergency events occurring in 2013.

Developed as an early warning system for severe weather and other threats to persons outdoors, the system should not be totally relied upon for early warning to individuals indoors where air-conditioning, thunder, wind, rain, and other conditions can cause the sirens not to be heard indoors. You should take advantage of numerous ways to receive emergency warnings and notifications such as via weather radios and monitoring local radio and television stations. If you are outdoors and hear a siren, you should seek shelter immediately as the threat may be in your immediate area. The outdoor warning sirens are used to provide an added layer of warning in the event of a severe threat to the area.

System Activation

The outdoor warning sirens for any or all of the towns, Villages, and communities in Natchitoches Parish are activated when the National Weather Service issues a “Tornado Warning” or when a local determination is made that a tornado or other severe threat exists to the area.. This determination is based on the evaluation of all available information. This may include, but is not limited to, National Weather Service watch and/or warning text, weather radar and reports from trained weather spotters or by public safety officials in the event of a non-weather related event. If the outdoor warning sirens are heard at any time, seek shelter or follow audible instructions and tune in to local radio and television, or your NOAA weather radio for instructions and information. It is important to remember that any thunderstorm can produce a tornado with little or no warning. When a tornado warning is issued or you hear the outdoor warning sirens, take the following immediate safety precautions.

In homes or small buildings

Go to a pre-designated safe area such as the basement (if available) or to an interior room on the lowest level, such as a closet or bathroom away from windows, doors, and outside walls. Upper floors are unsafe. If there is no time to descend, go to a closet, a small room with strong walls, or an inside hallway. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), and use your arms to cover your head and neck to protect against flying debris.

In schools, hospitals, factories, or shopping centers

Go to interior rooms and halls on the lowest level. Stay away from glass enclosed places or areas with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums and warehouses. Crouch down and cover your head and neck. Centrally located stairwells are good shelter.

In cars or mobile homes

ABANDON THEM IMMEDIATELY! Most deaths occur in cars and mobile homes. If you are in either of those locations, leave them and go to a substantial structure or designated tornado shelter.

If no suitable structure is nearby

Lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression and use your hands to cover your head. Be alert for flash floods!