Testing Wednesday: 15 New Outdoor Warning Sirens In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minneapolis is sounding 15 new outdoor warning sirens Wednesday installed in downtown. These new sirens meet a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guideline that the sound of the sirens exceed the ambient noise level by at least 10 decibels. The new sirens are 105-110 decibels.

The new siren locations are:

• 1400 Chicago Ave. S.
• 133 First Ave. N.
• 1005 Portland Ave. S.
• 424 Chicago Ave. S.
• 600 First Ave. N.
• 220 11th St. S.
• 1200 Nicollet Mall
• 400 First Ave. N.
• 800 LaSalle Ave.
• 1201 Washington Ave. S.
• 800 First St. N.
• 300 Sixth St. S.
• 1105 Eighth St. S.
• 527 Marquette Ave.
• 400 Marquette Ave.

These complement 50 existing larger sirens around the city. The total of the 65 sirens will bring the entire city up to the FEMA guideline’s level.

Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2013 with 43 sirens around the city; Phase 2 was completed in 2017 with seven sirens in and around downtown.

For severe weather warnings, outdoor warning siren activation in Hennepin County is based on the following criteria:

• Tornado warning or sustained straight line winds in excess of 70 mph.
• Outdoor warning sirens are meant to be heard outside. The system is not designed to provide notification inside homes or businesses.
• When sirens sound, people should always seek shelter and tune to local weather information on radio, television or NOAA Weather Radio for more information.
• The threat of severe weather does not stop when the sirens stop. Residents should continue to shelter and stay tuned to local weather information on radio, television or NOAA Weather Radios for the duration of the warning period.
• People who are in their vehicles when the sirens sound should seek shelter immediately. The safest place to be is in a sturdy building on the lowest level away from windows. If there is not a building nearby and a tornado is approaching, people should quickly get as far away from the road and cars as possible and lie in a low area covering their heads with their arms. They should stay away from overpasses as the bridge may collapse or create a wind tunnel with debris.

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