I Never Really Get Used To The Storm Sirens Being Tested At Noon On Saturdays…

I know what they are doing after they start sounding. And it’s a good thing, there was a small tornado about 12 miles north of here on November 3rd. It’s on the way to when I go to my doctors in Oklahoma City. But I forget for some reason and see the damaged (destroyed) homes and other buildings. Makes me feel stressed each time. I don’t know why they haven’t gotten started removing the damaged homes yet, it’s been 3 months, maybe waiting for insurance to payout or something.

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PatKirby · M

Growing up near the border our town used to sound the alarm daily at noon to announce lunchtime. Kinda cool and everyone would cut out for the restaurants. But not until I lived in the Dallas/Irving area did it strike some serious fear when the tornado sirens went off. Think Wizard of Oz with the house flying away. 😬

NativePortlander1970 ·

@PatKirby I still remember my very first iowa tornado siren drill shortly after my 11th birthday, a very long story why, I was used to the Oregon area sirens that sounded when there was a fire, but when I didn't hear a fire truck siren it confused the fuck out of me, my classmates just laughed at me when I looked out the window wondering why there wasn't one, the small station was only a block away from the small middle of nowhere north central small town iowa school.

SethGreene531 · M

Wednesday of every week at 10 AM we'd test them. Rising in the east, to roll across the valley in a descending wail.

Always unnerving, a sobering reminder to take shelter in place warnings seriously.

Seldom did a thunderstorm pass, without a tornado having spawned somewhere nearby.

[media=https://youtu.be/KlcJs3ogHoE?feature=shared]

BizSuitStacy · M

I can understand that. When I was a kid in school, they used to test the air raid sirens on the last Friday of the month. I knew it was just a test, but it still made me nervous.

NativePortlander1970 ·

@BizSuitStacy There is an old Glenn Ford narrated 1950's documentary about Portland's air raid system, it's pretty cool...[media=https://youtu.be/KPy6EhKg2vw]

cc: @Lilnonames @XDHyperGirlXD1 @candycane @Tumbleweed @SwampFlower @Blondily @cherokeepatti @Colonelmustardseed @GunFinger @WaryWitchWandering @Umile @Ducky @MyNameIsHurl @greensnacks @HumanEarth @DearAmbellina2113 @beermeplease @Musicman @MarineBob [@BizSuitStacy]

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

The town I went to school in had a siren to alert everyone to an emergency. We knew it worked because they also sounded it at noon every day to let everyone know it was lunch time. The stores would all close and everyone could go home to eat.

FreestyleArt · 31-35, M

Please stay safe

wildbill83 · 41-45, M

they don't do it here anymore, I guess it was scaring all the tourists/Floridians trying to figure out why siren is going off on a clear sunny day... 😅

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@wildbill83 They need to be tested regularly, better safe than sorry.

Nevertooold · 56-60, M

Still a little early for tornado season up here....couple of months yet!!

NativePortlander1970 ·

We got ours tuesday mornings at 10am, but only mid may through early september, and they are never on 10am on the dot, sometimes they even forget to sound them a couple two, three weeks in a row, sound a week or two then forget an entire month, I think our local fire chief is a drunk.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@NativePortlander1970 Every month has had at least one tornado at one time or another in Oklahoma. So they test year round. November tornadoes are really rare but it happened.

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