Grand Forks city officials want to remind residents of the function of emergency sirens that went off at least twice this afternoon and evening.
According to a news release from Kevin Dean, public information officer, the sirens are used to warn residents who are outdoors to seek immediate shelter because of "impending severe weather conditions."
They are not meant to warn people indoors, he said.
There are four reasons why the sirens may be sounded:
- The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning in Grand Forks or the surrounding area.
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- A funnel cloud has been spotted near the city.
- A "wall cloud," which can produce a tornado, is near or moving toward Grand Forks.
- Straight-line winds of more than 58 mph have been reported in the Grand Forks area.
In the event of an actual emergency, city officials ask residents to not call 911. Instead, tune to local radio stations or channel 19 on Midcontinent Cable because both are linked directly to the Emergency Alert System, which will give people additional safety instructions.
Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send e-mail to rjohnson@gfherald.com .
