tornados (Chicago, Oak Lawn, Lincoln: movies, school, tornado)

[Mel2882]

Tornados freak me out, as I am from California and have never seen or prepared for one before. How do I find out where the tornado warning sirens are located? Or, does anyone know if there is one in Lincoln Square?

[Drover]

Why exactly do you want to know where it's located? Is it not sufficient to be able to hear it when you need to?

[Mel2882]

I've never heard one before, so I guess I am just hoping one is loud or close enough for me to hear it if I were to be sleeping...?

[Lookout Kid]

It probably won't wake you up if you're sleeping. It sounds like an air raid siren in the movies (because it is also an air raid siren). Most of the tornado sirens were built in the 1950s as a part of the Civil Defense system, so they are multi-purpose. And they are all over the city. They usually test them at the beginning of the month.

I've lived in the midwest for more than 30 years and have never seen a tornado. I've probably heard the siren three times in an actual incident that didn't amount to anything. Tornados aren't as common in the upper midwest as you might think, though it seems that the area just south of the south suburbs gets more than its share of tornados. California is a much more dangerous place to face the perils of nature, with earthquakes, landslides, wild fires, etc. It's pretty rare for a tornado to destroy a populated area, though this Spring has been pretty bad so far in terms of tornadic activity.

By the way, "tornado watches" occur pretty much any time there is a big thunder storm. There's no reason to freak out unless you see "tornado warnings" in your area.

[Johnny Northside]

There are 112 sirens throughout the city, each 1 to 2 miles apart to ensure they can be heard everywhere. They are tested the first Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m., if you want to test whether you will hear it during an actual emergency. If you want to determine the exact location of the siren(s) in Lincoln Square, look for a siren like this:

http://www.jmarcoz.com/sirens/chicago3_il.jpg

(though the model(s) in Lincoln Square may vary) in public or semi-public places like Welles Park, Waters School, etc.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Johnny Northside

There are 112 sirens throughout the city, each 1 to 2 miles apart to ensure they can be heard everywhere. They are tested the first Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m., if you want to test whether you will hear it during an actual emergency. If you want to determine the exact location of the siren(s) in Lincoln Square, look for a siren like this:

http://www.jmarcoz.com/sirens/chicago3_il.jpg

(though the model(s) in Lincoln Square may vary) in public or semi-public places like Welles Park, Waters School, etc.

You got it right. Also they can be used as a public address system using either a recorded speech or live instructions. How many of you guys knew that? Kinda scary huh? It will be very useful when martial law is implemented.

[Irishtom29]

I remember the one that hit Oak Lawn and the South Side about 40 years ago, pretty bad, killed many people. But I don't recall one ever hitting on the North Side.

[Drover]

The north side dodged a bullet in 2006. One touched down on the lake right off Edgewater/Rogers Park. Some frat guys at Loyola got some good footage of it:


YouTube - Loyola Chicago tornado


YouTube - Loyola Chicago Tornado Video 2: Taking Cover!!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Drover

The north side dodged a bullet in 2006. One touched down on the lake right off Edgewater/Rogers Park. Some frat guys at Loyola got some good footage of it:


YouTube - Loyola Chicago tornado


YouTube - Loyola Chicago Tornado Video 2: Taking Cover!!

That looks like a weaker water spout instead of a bona fide super cell tornado. But I'm no meteorologist!

Aren't these frat boys intensely stupid for not getting into their basement? It's not like that funnel cloud was miles away...

[aragx6]

You're more likely to get hit by a bus or get in a fatal car crash... seriously, I wouldn't worry about it. Not sure where in CA you are, but wildfires are typically more dangerous because they cover such huge areas, unlike tornados which are very localized.