The City of Fargo will conduct a system-wide evaluation of its outdoor emergency warning sirens Tuesday, Oct. 6, and Wednesday, Oct. 7. The evaluation could continue into Thursday, Oct. 8, if needed. The work is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to ensure the reliability of the emergency warning system.
What to Expect During the Oct. 6-7 Evaluation
Residents may see a technician working on the system and hear brief siren “growl” tests during the system-wide evaluation. These brief tests are part of the evaluation and do not require residents to take action.
Monthly Siren Test Oct. 7
The City of Fargo will also conduct its regularly scheduled monthly siren test on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m. This monthly test will occur as usual and is separate from the brief tests that may occur during the system-wide evaluation.
Depending on the results of the system-wide evaluation, an additional full-system test similar to the monthly test may be conducted at the end of the evaluation. This additional test may not be necessary.
If You Hear a Siren Outside of Testing
If residents hear a siren outside of the testing described in this release, they should check official City communications and other trusted local sources for information.
What to Do in an Emergency
In an actual emergency, residents should:
• Go indoors immediately and move to a safe location.
• Get information from local officials through official City communications, local media, Cass Clay Alerts and other available emergency alert systems.
• Follow instructions from local officials, including the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, and remain in a safe location until the situation has passed or further instructions are provided.
• Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies requiring immediate assistance.
How to Prepare for an Emergency
Fargo Emergency Management encourages residents to sign up for Cass Clay Alerts, a free emergency notification system that sends emergency alerts directly to a phone or email. Register at FargoND.gov/CassClayAlerts. Residents are also encouraged to have a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio to receive emergency weather and safety information indoors, even if cellphone service or power is disrupted. Radio models with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology can be programmed to receive alerts for the local area.
Questions about the emergency siren system may be directed to the Fargo Office of Emergency Management at 701.476.4069 or through the contact form on the City of Fargo website.