(La Porte County, IN) - Sirens sounded throughout La Porte County this morning as part of severe weather preparedness week throughout the state.

 

The emergency weather sirens went off at 9:15 a.m. and stayed on for three minutes.

 

Rob Sabie, Director of the La Porte County Emergency Management Agency, said the purpose of activating the sirens was to start preparing the public for responding to extreme weather since tornado season is approaching.

 

Sabie said the sirens are also turned on once a month on a Saturday to make sure all of them are working properly.  Sirens going off at any other time or day means a tornado warning has been issued or some other type of severe weather is approaching, he said.

 

Sabie said people should know in advance how they’re going to respond to extreme weather.

 

“Go over your plan. Know what you’re supposed to do,” he said.

 

In the event of severe weather, Sabie said people should go to their basements or crawlspaces.  People without a basement or crawlspace should go to the center of their home on the main level because that’s the strongest area of the structure and furthest from windows.

 

“The weakest part of any building is windows. Those are the things that are going to break first.  With the high winds, most injuries are caused by flying debris,” he said.

 

There are more than 40 emergency weather sirens throughout La Porte County.