Press Releases

As seasonal weather can become volatile, it is appropriate to remind residents to always be aware of potential threatening conditions and to understand the best actions to take in severe storms and other potential emergencies.

One tool to help alert residents to severe storms or other emergencies is Dearborn’s outdoor warning system. It is important for residents to understand that the purpose of an outdoor warning system is to interrupt daily activities and focus attention on an emergency situation. The sirens are meant to be outdoor warning devices, alerting people to the need to take shelter indoors.

The effectiveness of outdoor sirens as a primary warning system is limited to specific coverage areas.  They can be heard from almost any outdoor location in Dearborn. However, they may not be heard indoors, especially if residents have air conditioners and televisions running. The improved efficiency of new windows also reduces outdoor sound.

The outdoor warning system in Dearborn is provided through a federal grant obtained by the Wayne County Emergency Management Office. It replaced the city’s aging outdoor  sirens, which were becoming difficult to maintain as replacement parts were non-existent.

The new siren project has enough new sirens to provide reasonable outdoor coverage throughout the City of Dearborn.

However, a siren system should be viewed only as one piece of an overall strategy for emergency notification.

Citizens should not rely on any single method of notification.  Weather radios, alerts sent through Nixle.com, radio and television broadcasting, and outdoor sirens all play a role.

If the outdoor sirens are sounded, residents should go or remain indoors, tune in to the broadcast media, and take action as appropriately recommended.

An alert warning signal is a 3 to 5 minute steady siren. The warning signal is intended to alert residents to seek shelter and/or a broadcast media source for essential emergency information.
For your safety, the sirens are tested each month on the first Saturday at 1 p.m. In case of threatening weather, the test will be postponed until the next day.

If you hear the outdoor sirens at time other than the usual testing schedule, take shelter immediately.