The Siren Board

The Region of Waterloo will be conducting a major emergency drill this Thursday November 13, 2014 in Breslau. Woolwich Township will activate the 2001-130 in the community for 3 minutes around 830am.

Regular bi-weekly 15 second tests occur on every second Monday. This will be the second time this year they will do a full 3 minute test of the siren. I'm still waiting for confirmation of the exact time the siren will sound, as regional planners still haven't determined that. The drill runs from 830-11am.

If anyone in Southwestern Ontario is available, this will likely be the last full 3 minute test of the siren until May 2015. Do note that Waterloo Regional Police will be closing Woolwich St in Breslau at 843am for the drill. There will be heavy emergency service presence in the area.

I that the only siren in the immediate area? I wish more of Southwestern Ontario would adopt a least some sort of siren system even if on a smaller scale like that.

SirenMadness wrote:I that the only siren in the immediate area? I wish more of Southwestern Ontario would adopt a least some sort of siren system even if on a smaller scale like that.

There are currently 5 emergency sirens in Woolwich Township with two STH-10's and a Model 5 Elmira, a Model 2 in St. Jacobs, and 2001-130 in Breslau. The township has plans for a siren in all communities in the future. This emergency drill will only involve Breslau, though. There is usually only one 3 minute test of all the sirens per year in May. This is a special occasion.

Interestingly, the sirens are called 'The Town Siren' for each community and Woolwich has adopted several plans and laws for businesses and schools. I worked at Toyota in Elmira and part of the training involved knowing where the tornado shelter is, and what to do if the Town Siren sounds. Also, I stopped in at New Orleans Pizza in Elmira back in July and there was a notice on the wall outlining the plans in place for an emergency including the siren. Woolwich Twp is light-years ahead of most municipalities in this province. They'll also be activating their reverse 911 system, which also includes eastern areas of Kitchener because of their close proximity to the 2001-130.