LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - As storms move toward central Arkansas, we could potentially hear the loud sound of a tornado siren. But when does it sound? Where do you go? What does it mean?
As Sammy Gately explained, "That means that the threat is there. That they need to take cover immediately." Gately is the deputy director for Saline County's Office of Emergency Management. He said that every year, there are people who still do not fully understand how a siren is used.
Gately said, "A lot of times people will say they can't hear them when they're in the house, if it's raining real hard and the wind is blowing. They're intended to warn people that are out doors." Saline County has 46 tornado sirens. If you hear it sounding, you should seek shelter in an interior room away from windows or a storm shelter.
We checked with neighboring counties as well to see what their alert system consists of. Pulaski County spent much of Wednesday afternoon testing their sirens. Faulkner County does not cover the county. Instead, Conway's 911 dispatch officials sounds the siren based on information from the national weather service, law enforcement and public safety officials.
For more information on Saline County's cod red weather warning click here.
