JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Emergency Management (TCEM) announced that it will conduct a countywide outdoor warning siren drill on Friday, May 23.
According to TCEM, the testing of individual sirens will begin at 9 a.m. and continue periodically throughout the day. A full-system siren test will occur at 12 p.m. when all sirens will sound simultaneously using the Hi/Lo wail tone.
“There is no emergency,” TCEM said via press release. “This is only a test. Please do not call dispatch.”
TCEM wrote that outdoor warning sirens are used in Teton County for all hazards, not just tornadoes. They can be activated for events like hazardous materials incidents, severe weather or wildfire evacuations. Sirens are designed to alert people who are outdoors to seek more information immediately.
“We want people to hear a siren and know it means, ‘Pay attention—something important is happening,’” TCEM Coordinator Rich Ochs said in the announcement. “Sirens are a critical part of our layered alert system, especially when power or cell networks are down.”
The public is encouraged to assist in evaluating the effectiveness of the system by submitting feedback. The siren audibility survey will be available on May 23, and to view the interactive siren map go here.
“Our community’s input is what helps us make this system better,” Ochs said. “Taking 30 seconds to complete the survey gives us real-world data that we can’t get any other way.”
A three-minute or longer siren wail indicates an actual emergency, per the press release. Check the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, Teton_WY Alerts or local media for more information during an emergency.
