News

[FIRE DEPARTMENT CLARIFIES WARNING SIREN USAGE]  

[OCEAN PINES, MD, April 2, 2023] — Last night, April 1^st, at approximately 8:50pm the community warning sirens activated to alert the residents of Ocean Pines about the Tornado Warning that was issued by the US National Weather Service (Wakefield, Virginia) for our area. Unlike our neighboring communities, the sirens in Ocean Pines only activate when there is a weather warning OR on the first Saturday of the month at 10am for a monthly test.

If you hear the warning sirens activate and it is not at 10am on the first Saturday of the month, the time is NOW to react. If you are indoors, go to a safe room, basement, or storm cellar. If there is no basement, get to a small, interior room on the lowest level. Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls. 

If you are outside and can safely get to a sturdy building, do so immediately. If not, do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death. Use your arms to protect your head and neck.

Ocean Pines has three warning sirens placed strategically across the community. Warning sirens have been installed in the following locations:

• Atop the Sandyhook Road Water Tower
• In the area of Club House Drive
• At the South Station (911 Ocean Parkway)

We have heard reports that some members of the community did not hear the warning sirens and while in a perfect world we would want everyone to hear the sirens, it is not always possible. With modern housing and the efforts that are taken to ensure they are energy efficient, sound waves from warning sirens can have a much harder time penetrating the systems that keep our homes efficient compared to 50 years ago.

With that in mind, we highly encourage all residents to purchase a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio. Additionally, if you have an operational cellular device, you should receive notifications from The Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS is connected to your location based on proximity of your device to local cellular towers. If your device is in range of a tower in an impacted area, you will receive a notification. Ocean Pines is known for having “dead zones” and that is why we recommend the NOAA Weather Radio as well.

For more information on Weather Preparedness, please review this resource provided by Ready.Gov: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/tornado-information-sheet.pdf

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Learn more at www.opvfd.com

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