Brighton's Ready and Prepared

The City of Brighton has been very proactive to provide severe weather warning for its residents. Having experienced several days of potentially threatening weather, the Emergency Warning Sirens have proven very valuable in giving residents the security to know they will be warned in the event of a tornado.

Four years ago the city installed warning sirens at a significant cost -approximately $490,000 to for nine sirens throughout the city. Research of cities in Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee, where significant tornado devastation has occurred, concluded: “The sirens were credited with saving many lives. Seventy-six percent of those receiving a warning of a tornado were notified by sirens.“ After hearing the report on the effectiveness of tornado sirens and in respon se to citizen concerns, the City Council decided this was an important safety measure for the city’s residents.

The sirens are used as a warning when notifications from the National Weather Service and notification by Brighton police officers trained to identify funnel clouds warrant the sirens be activated. The sirens are started as soon as a weather spotter sees cloud rotation or a funnel cloud. They continue to sound and are re-sounded until the cloud rotations or funnel clouds have dissipated. When the sirens are activated, residents should seek shelter until any danger of a tornado has passed.

The sirens are only one of the methods the city employs to protect its residents. In certain cases, Reverse 911(recorded calls to every home) is also used. The city’s web site offers a free download of “Brighton Alert,” a computer generated weather alert. Additionally, the city equipped every Brighton school with a NOAA weather radio.

Citizens are reminded to never rely on only one method of warning when the sky appears threatening. If the sirens are activated and you are near a radio or television, you should turn to the weather channel and access additional information. Do not go outside to see if you can spot the funnel cloud.

If either the sirens or the National Weather Service indicate a tornado approaching Brighton and you are inside, go to the basement, storm cellar or the lowest level of the building. No basement – go to an inner hallway or smaller inner room without windows. Go to the center of the room and get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on to it. Protect your head and arms. If you live in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.

If you are outdoors, if possible get inside a building. If not, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building if shelter isn’t available.

If you are in a car, never try to out-drive a tornado. Tornadoes can change direction quickly. Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. Or, if shelter isn’t available, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.

The City conducts a test of the siren warning system the first Wednesday of every month, at 11:00 a.m. Listen for the sirens so that you are acquainted with the alert and in the event of threatening weather, please heed the sirens. T he sirens are not only used for tornado warnings, but for very severe weather conditions or a city-wide emergency.