[Scan-DC] Morgan County 9-1-1

[Alan Henney]

Anybody hear anything good on 155.145?

The Morgan Messenger (Berkeley Springs, West Virginia)

March 11, 2015

Fire siren pattern alerts

BYLINE: Morgan County Emergency Communications Center

SECTION: NEWS

LENGTH: 636 words

Morgan County 9-1-1 and Emergency Communications utilizes specific siren patterns to alert responders, and the public, to specific emergency situations. Sometimes referred to as the "fire whistle," these sirens do a great deal more than just alert fire crews. Every citizen should keep an ear open during a siren activation. Anyone living near a fire station has heard these various siren patterns, but some citizens may not know what each siren pattern means.

Presently sirens are located in Berkeley Springs, Paw Paw, Great Cacapon and South Morgan. 

Tornado warnings and emergency alerts

Should you hear a series of 10 cycles of six seconds winding up and six seconds winding down, this is the siren pattern for tornado warnings. This siren may also be used during other county wide emergencies. If you are accustomed to hearing a fire or EMS siren activation, you'll notice that the tornado warning/ emergency alert siren is much longer than any other siren pattern. This siren has a duration of two minutes.

This siren pattern is particularly important to every citizen in Morgan County. Should you hear this pattern of fire siren, take immediate action. Seek shelter immediately and tune to the local radio or television station for details. If you have a scanner, Morgan County's Communications Center will broadcast specific information pertaining to the emergency at hand on a frequency of 155.145 MHz.

The Communications Center will repeat this process every 15 minutes until the immediate threat has passed. We know this siren may get annoying or obnoxious and that is exactly why we do it - to get your attention. The Communications Center and the Dispatchers at 9-1-1 want you to take immediate action to get out of harm's way. We don't mind taking emergency 9-1-1 calls, but Dispatchers also don't want anyone to get hurt.

After the threat has passed, Morgan County will make a general announcement on the frequency of 155.145 MHz. The local television and radio stations should also forward this information to the public.

Fire Department Alerts:

Should you hear a series of three cycles of 13 seconds winding up and seven seconds winding down, this is the siren pattern for firefighters. This siren has a duration of one minute.

This particular siren might alert fire crews to automobile crashes, fires, smoke investigations or odor investigations.

Emergency medical service alerts

In the event you hear a long single siren of 30 seconds duration, it is intended to alert EMS crews in Great Cacapon and Paw Paw. In Berkeley Springs and South Morgan, this siren might be used to alert firefighters to assist EMS crews with manpower, lifting, or cardiac or respiratory arrest incidents.

While there are other means of alerting fire and EMS crews, such as pagers, scanners and radios, one of the most cost effective and reliable means of alerting fire and EMS crews remains the trusted siren.

Morgan County 9-1-1 has received phone calls from concerned citizens and visitors asking what these sirens mean. It is our hope that this helps to clear up any confusion. We understand it is inconvenient to be awakened in the middle of the night by a loud fire or EMS siren, but we ask that you remain mindful of fire and EMS crews who listen for this siren as their bugle call.

When you hear the siren, remember: there are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters answering the call of someone in distress. It could be your neighbor, loved one, friend, or even you in need of emergency assistance.

If you hear a siren, do not call 9-1-1 unless you have an actual life threatening emergency. 9-1-1 Dispatchers may be handling emergencies for other callers and emergency responders.

Questions can be forwarded to: Morgan County E 9-1-1, 38 Dispatch Lane, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 or E911director at morgancounty wv.gov.