5/14/14 - As the past couple of days have amply demonstrated, severe weather season is upon us again and local public safety officials are reminding the public that the system for emergency notifications has changed this year. When Monday afternoonâs storm prompted a tornado warning for southern Livingston County, it was based on the information generated by the advanced weather radar systems now in place that indicated the conditions were right for a tornado to form, not that an actual funnel cloud had been spotted as had been the standard in the past. In addition, Brighton Fire Authority Chief Mike OâBrian tells WHMI that while the sirens used to sound for only tornado warnings, they will now also sound for severe thunderstorm warnings with sustained winds over 70mph. Also, because the county is now under a unified alert system, all of the emergency sirens will sound during a tornado warning that affects any part of the county. Officials say the goal is to increase the warning time for residents to seek shelter and hopefully prevent injuries or fatalities should an actual tornado touch down. OâBrian and Livingston County Emergency Manager Mike Kinaschuk will more fully explain the new system during WHMIâs Viewpoint this Sunday morning at 8:30. (JK)
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