Severe weather is not uncommon in Colorado. From blizzards to flooding rains to tornadoes, Aurora and other Colorado cities face weather threats regularly that can have devastating effects on a community. During spring and summer months, tornadoes can form with little or no warning most often between 3–9 p.m. Typically, tornadoes move from southwest to northeast, but can move in any direction depending on the surrounding conditions.

The city of Aurora’s Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for all hazards potentially affecting the city and focuses on mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The safety and security of our residents and employees are our top priority. Here is some weather-related information that might be helpful to residents:

OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEM/SIRENS

• The outdoor warning sirens are activated by the Public Safety Communications Center in the event of a tornado warning. You will hear a three minute WAIL tone, indicating you should seek shelter immediately and tune into radio and/or local news stations to obtain information about the hazard.
• Inside a building, you should move to the lowest level available, preferably a basement. If no basement is available, move to an interior room without windows.
• Once the warning has been lifted and the hazard has passed, you will hear a thirty second WHOOP tone, indicating an all-clear that the hazard has passed and it is no longer necessary to remain sheltered.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS
Aurora uses an emergency notification system as an additional tool to notify of residents emergency or potentially hazardous situations. By registering, the city will be able to contact you when an emergency occurs in your area. You can register the best way to be contacted either by home phone, cell phone, text message, and/or email. Please be aware, emergency notification text messages will result in a charge in accordance with your individual cell phone plan. To register go to auroragov.org and click on “emergency citizen notification.”

BE PREPARED
It is up to residents to play an active role in preparing for possible emergencies and disasters. The Aurora Office of Emergency Management offers a variety of educational programs to help residents better prepare for and respond to disasters. To learn more about these special services and free classes, contact afd_oem@auroragov.org or call 303-739-7636.

• Community Emergency Response Training is a course which trains citizens how to take care of themselves, their families and their neighbors until help arrives.
• “Be Ready” is a class which teaches disaster basic awareness as well as other household safety issues and can be coordinated for groups or organizations.
• Make your own home emergency kit and learn about important emergency planning online at auroragov.org, click on Departments/Fire/Office of Emergency Management.
• “Weather Spotter,” is a class where you can learn more about Colorado weather and how to read the skies.
• The Special Needs Registry it is a voluntary registration program where citizens self- identify special medical or transportation needs. It assists emergency planners in developing emergency plans that includes the specific needs of the community.
• Consider purchasing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio for your home or business. They give accurate, immediate information on all types of weather hazards.