Boulder County’s outdoor emergency siren testing will begin today, April 7, as part of “flood season preparedness,” according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). Emergency siren testing occurs annually in Boulder County on the first Monday of the month from April through August. The tests will occur between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The sirens are meant to alert people who are outside that there is a severe weather event or other emergency situation that could threaten their safety. They are primarily used for flash flood and flood events but can also be used for different hazards at the request of first responders, according to the BCSO.
The siren tests ensure that systems are operational during periods of flood risk and help familiarize residents with the sounds. The alerts are meant to be heard outside but may be less noticeable for residents who are indoors.
As part of the siren testing, sirens will go off audibly in all Boulder County communities that have sirens, including Boulder, Eldorado Springs, Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette, Louisville, Lyons, Superior, Marshall, and the University of Colorado at Boulder. The BCSO said that after April, only Boulder and Lyons will continue audible testing, while other communities transition to “silent tests.”
The BCSO said that individuals should not rely on the siren system alone and should sign up for emergency alerts at http://BoCoAlert.org.
