DETROIT – Oakland County set off sirens during Tuesday's stormy morning even though there were no tornadoes.
Local 4 News Morning fielded several calls from confused viewers who were worried.
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I called Oakland County to get a clear explanation.
In addition to tornadoes, additional weather phenomena may trigger the sounding of a neighborhood siren, according to Tricia Smith the Oakland County's Emergency Management Coordinator.
She and the county's Homeland Security Department state that in addition to the issuance of a Tornado Warning, when the National Weather Service issues "a Severe Thunderstorm (Warning) with damaging winds at or greater than 70mph for Oakland County, the sirens are activated."
Oakland County International Airport recorded a 52 mph wind gust at 6:53am ET and Ms. Smith determined that higher winds signaled the need for sirens. Also, when a siren in one Oakland County community is activated, alarms go off across all of Oakland County.
So when sirens are sounded, seek shelter immediately even if there are no tornadoes.
WATCH: Local 4 weather special: Terrifying Tornadoes
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