You should continue your regular activities during a system test. You do not need to take any special action or seek cover during a test.
How can I tell the difference between a monthly test and an emergency?
A system test will only take place around 7:00 p.m. the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, and will never last longer than a couple of minutes. In the event of an emergency the sirens will sound continuously until the emergency is over.
What should I do when I hear the sirens?
If you hear one long tone, that means take cover because severe weather or a tornado is in the immediate area. When you hear the sirens seek shelter immediately. Enter the nearest building and move into interior corridors away from windows. Close all doors to rooms with windows, and move to the lowest level of the building. If you have a basement, consider welcoming neighbors. Remain inside until the sirens stop and you hear the “all clear” notification. The “all-clear” siren consists of three short sirens.
What types of emergencies do the sirens indicate?
The sirens indicate emergencies that make it unsafe to be outdoors and require you to seek immediate shelter. The most likely cause of these unsafe outdoor conditions is severe weather.
The sirens are only used for emergencies that impact or present a danger to the city of Friona. For example, the sirens will not be sounded for a tornado watch in Hereford, but they will be sounded if there is a tornado on the ground that has Friona in its forecast path.
The Friona Volunteer Fire Department has purchased emergency weather radios and will have them available for the public to purchase at a cost of $30.00 per radio. Anyone interested can contact a Friona Volunteer Fire Fighter or pick one up at 4-Way Pump. Radios will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
