Forsyth County residents will hear a different sound at noon the first Wednesday of the month starting March 6, as the county changes the alert it uses when testing its severe weather sirens.
Rather than using the “Westminster Chime” test sound, the Forsyth Emergency Management Agency will begin using the “Warning Tone,” the actual siren used to sound the alarm of an approaching tornado, officials said. The test is weather permitting, and will take place if the sky is clear.
“The decision to begin conducting the siren tests with the warning tone instead of the test tone was made to help avoid confusion and to help residents recognize what the alarm signifies should there be an actually tornado warning in the county,” EMA Director Chris Grimes said.
Forsyth has 17 outdoor severe weather sirens, intended to alert only residents who are outside, officials said; those inside should have other means of receiving weather alerts. For information on receiving alerts by email, telephone call and/or text message: https://bit.ly/2SDpyCz
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