MANITOWOC – After emergency sirens did not sound before a severe thunderstorm tore through Manitowoc County on May 17 with 70 to 80 mph winds, Manitowoc County Emergency Services shared a statement about its severe warning system.
Why sirens did not sound before the Manitowoc County storm
In a social media post on May 18, Emergency Services said:
The City of Manitowoc is the only municipality that uses sirens for severe thunderstorm warnings. This is at the discretion of the Fire Chief or his designee. The storm that came through Manitowoc County yesterday afternoon was sudden, and Joint Dispatch was not able to make contact with the Manitowoc Fire Department in time. Had there been reasonable warning, dispatch would have contacted the City Fire Dept., notified them of the NOAA weather warning and then Manitowoc Fire would advise dispatch to activate the sirens.
Manitowoc County Joint Dispatch only sets off sirens in the county when the National Weather Service advises them there is a tornado warning for our area, or if trained personnel call in and advise them there is rotation or a tornado on the ground. The Joint Dispatch Center does not make the decision to set off the sirens on their own. Once the Joint Dispatch Center receives a severe thunderstorm warning, dispatch broadcasts the warning to all police, fire and EMS agencies.
It is important to remember that in most cases, tornado sirens cannot be heard inside your home unless you are near one. The Manitowoc County Emergency Management Department strongly urges everyone to purchase a NOAA weather radio and have it programmed to your areas for inclement weather events. The Emergency Management office has weather radios for sale for $30.00. If you are interested in purchasing one, contact our office.
Manitowoc County Emergency Management staff, National Weather Service personnel, and the City of Two Rivers Fire and Parks toured the City of Two Rivers this morning to evaluate the damages. It has been determined the damages were caused by straight-line winds and not a tornado.
Two Rivers storm damage leaves thousands without power
A powerful storm hit Manitowoc County Sunday, May 17. Two Rivers was especially hard-hit, with power knocked out to more than 3,500 electric accounts — nearly half the community — while roads were blocked and damage was reported across the city.
Hundreds of trees were damaged or downed, streets became hazardous because of fallen branches and power lines, and the city reported at least $80,000 in damage to public buildings, equipment and facilities.
Parks, cemeteries and a school also were affected, with some areas closed for safety and cleanup expected to continue for days.
Most power had been restored by early Monday, though some properties still needed repairs.
Manitowoc County weather forecast calls for more storms and heavy rain
The forecast calls for thunderstorms and locally heavy rain Monday night, with rain continuing into early Tuesday before skies gradually clear. Midweek is expected to be cooler and drier.
Contact Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Why no sirens sounded before Manitowoc County storm officials say wasn’t tornado
Reporting by Brandon Reid, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
