Pontiac, MI, September 11, 2008 Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson along with Mike Sturm, administrator of the Emergency Response and Preparedness unit, announced today a significant change in when the county's outdoor warning sirens are activated to signal a possible weather-related emergency.
"In the past, the sirens have only been activated when a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar," Patterson said. "Henceforth, the outdoor warning system will be activated when severe thunderstorms with damaging winds at or near 70 miles per hour are in Oakland County or within a ten mile buffer around the county."
According to the National Weather Service, if a 70 mile per hour requirement had been in place, Oakland County would have activated the sirens an additional half a dozen times since January 2006, instead of three times as occurred during that period of time.
Sturm said it was felt any severe weather condition that resulted in widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property should warrant activation of the outdoor warning system. He also pointed out that winds of 65 miles per hour or more can do as much damage as an EF-0 tornado which has winds of 65-80 miles per hour.
For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer, at (248) 858-1048.
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