Village Considers Changes to Tornado Sirens After Residents Complain

Patch readers spoke, and village officials listened.

After powerful storms swept through Oak Lawn on Sunday, Patch received more than 100 comments from readers on the website and on Facebook, complaining that they couldn’t hear the warnings from the village’s new state-of-the-art tornado warning system.

The new system, installed in six different locations throughout Oak Lawn earlier this year, replaced the 25-year-old civil defense sirens. Unfortunately, the technology may have been a little ahead of the curve for residents used to hearing the traditional civil defense sirens.

“We do take people’s comments and feedback seriously to inprove performance and public perception of the system,” said Lt. Art Clark, emergency coordinator for the Oak Lawn Police Department.

The American Signal Corporation outdoor emergency warning system represents the latest technology used in warning communities of severe weather events and other emergencies.

Featuring different tonal sounds similar to those preceding weather bulletins on TV and radio, as well as voice warnings in English, Polish, Spanish and Arabic, it is designed primarily to be heard outside, not inside a house or building.

“We selected this system for its siren tone and voice capabilities,” Clark said. “We took advantage of changes in technology that occurred in the last 30 years when the old system was installed.”

Voice notification in different languages was selected in order to provide real time information about emergencies outside of severe weather. Police supervisors and the 911 dispatchers can activate the PA system from police vehicles and the emergency communications center, in addition to Oak Lawn Fire Station #3 on 93rd Street.

The village employs 911 dispatchers who speak Polish, Arabic and Spanish to deliver voice warnings and information in those languages.

“In Oak Lawn, for 26-percent of the population English is not the primary language spoken,” Clark said. “I know some people don’t like the voices and prefer the old siren system sound.”

In addition to better notification coverage, the system runs silent tests every day to ensure that it is working properly and that back-up batteries are charged.

“With the old system if you wanted to check to see if it was working you had to wait until the first Tuesday of the month, or climb a pole to check to see if the radio was good and the batteries were charged,” Clark said.

The ASC outdoor warning system is designed to be used in tandem with weather radios, that provide warnings inside buildings.

The village has also implemented an Everbridge citizen notification alert system that allows residents and businesses to sign up to receive voice, email and text alerts on mobile and land line phones.

After Sunday, however, village officials are taking another look at the new tornado siren system.

Among the changes under consideration: extending the tone signifying a severe weather alert, and deleting the voice messages so that residents hear the tone only.

Village officials are also considering changing the sound so that it’s similar to the old tornado system sound.

“I appreciate the fact that a lot of people grew up hearing the old civil defense siren,” Clark said."We take their concerns very seriously."

Before such changes can be implemented, the matter will go before the Oak Lawn Village Board for discussion before the end of the year.

Need a weather alert radio?

The Village of Oak Lawn has teamed up with Advocate Christ Medical Center and Walgreens to offer discounted weather radios by Midland.

The weather alert radios typically sell for around $40; the village is offering 1,000 coupons that will enable residents and businesses to purchase a weather radio at the Walgreens store at 95th Street and Cicero Avenue at a reduced cost.

With the special coupon, a Midland weather radio can be purchased for around $20 before tax.

Oak Lawn’s six trustees will each be provided with 160 coupons. Starting on Dec. 2 through Dec. 6, a table will be set up in the lobby of village hall, where residents can also pick up the coupons during business hours on a first-come, first-served basis.

Oak Lawn Village Hall is located at 9446 S. Raymond Ave.

Visit the Village of Oak Lawn Facebook page for more information about the program.