Flagstaff to test flood sirens Thursday morning
FLAGSTAFF — Some Coconino County residents could be in for a startling wake-up Thursday morning when the city tests the Museum Fire area flood sirens.
The hourlong testing begins at 9 a.m. It will confirm that the siren system was properly updated and will include the first Navajo language translation of the emergency broadcast messaging.
During this time, residents will hear an alarm sound, followed by a voice message repeated three times in English, Spanish and Navajo. The testing will conclude with a wind-down siren to indicate the end of the message. The city notes that the wind-down siren sound does not signify the end of the threat of a flood event, only the end of the message.
The Museum Fire flood area siren alert system is still relatively new. It was first installed in 2022 in the Grandview Homes and Sunnyside neighborhoods of Flagstaff to alert residents to imminent flash flooding. The system is a supplemental alerting system to notify residents of imminent danger and does not replace the Emergency Notification Alert text messages, city officials said.
When residents receive the Emergency Notification Alert text message or hear the siren alerting system, they should immediately follow all safety instructions.
Testing may be postponed in the event of rain or smoke in the area, according to the city.
Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flagstaff to test Museum Fire flood sirens on June 29, 2023
