Isabella County Emergency Management - FAQ's
Outdoor Warning Siren System - Frequently Asked Questions
Early Warning Siren System
Isabella County currently has 29 outdoor warning sirens located throughout the county.
All Isabella County Outdoor Warning Sirens are tested the 1st Thursday of every month at 3:00 pm. For further information on locations and to hear siren tones click here.
Report a non-working sirenEmergency Alert Radio System
Residents and visitors can tune to AM 1610 on their radio dial to keep informed of needed emergency information anytime day or night. more information...
Weather Spotter Report Form
- How are the warning sirens activated?
- The sirens are activated by the Isabella County 911 Dispatch Center
receiving official notification from the National Weather Service that
Isabella County is under a Tornado Warning.
- The sirens can also be activated at the request of a public safety
officer within our county when they spot a life threatening situation
such as a funnel cloud, large damaging hail, or other potential threat.
- If after a severe weather event (winds, tornado, etc) residents cell
phones and/ or land lines should become unable to dial 911 or
989-773-1000 and reach Isabella County Central Dispatch, the plan is for
neighborhood fire departments to "man" (make sure staff are available
at) their stations for citizens to report a request for help. At that
time emergency responders will be actively searching for people that
need help as well , but can not leave their residences.
- Why do the sirens seem to go off after the storm has passed?
- First, be sure that you are not hearing the
All
Clear Siren which is usually sounded when the National Weather
Service has issued a Tornado Warning Cancellation or Expiration. This
siren sound is different than the
Take Shelter Siren sound.
- Second, because many of the people who reported for the Emergency Management Office correctly reported which sound they heard, it is important to know that the Grand Rapids Weather Radar emits its Doppler radar beam on an angle from the Grand Rapids office near the Kent County Airport. The beam is on a slight angle that when it is reporting for Isabella County, the angle results in the beam being almost a mile above ground. Isabella County seems to have some weather events that are occurring lower than what the beam can immediately see/recognize. This is where first responders and trained civilian volunteer weather spotters are critical.
Isabella County annually hosts at least one spotter class each spring. Classes are free and open to the general public. Trained spotters assist Isabella County by reporting directly to the National Weather Service who can then issue more accurate warnings and watches based on trained spotter information.