If you hear a weather siren sounding at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month, don’t panic. It’s only a test.
The City’s emergency management department will be testing the Outdoor Warning System (OWS) sirens starting May 6. The audible test will indicate that it is only a test. Sirens will not be tested if threatening weather is on the horizon.
The City of Burleson activates the OWS sirens (sirens and horn) when there is a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado warning. The sirens are distinctive. The severe thunderstorm warning is a voice message, followed by a 30-second discontinuous horn, and ends with a repeat of the voice message. The tornado warning siren starts with a voice message that is followed by a three-minute siren and ends with a repeat of the voice message. You can listen to samples of both sirens by logging on to the City web site at www.burlesontx.com and clicking on the “Weather Warning Alerts” on the home page.
Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when the National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning for the Burleson area. The warning includes large hail, winds more than 58 miles an hour or weather capable of producing a tornado. Tornado warnings are issued when tornado activity has been reported in or approaching the Burleson area.
The City has a team of trained storm spotters, including emergency management personnel, firefighters, and RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) ham radio operators who keep tabs on the weather alerts and radar. When severe weather is on the horizon, both the OWS sirens and the Connect-CTY emergency phone notification system are activated.
For more information about the weather alerts, go to www.burlesontx.com and click on the “Emergency Notifications and Preparedness” button on the home page. For more information about this release, call the public information office at 817-447-5400, ext. 286.

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