Indiana Administrative Code › Title 290 - DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY › Article 2 - SEVERE WEATHER WARNING SIRENS › Rule 1 - Severe Weather Warning Siren Planning › Section 1-7 - Siren audibility and installation standards

Current through July 10, 2024
Authority: IC
				  36-8-21.5-9
Affected: IC 36-8-21.5
Sec. 7.
(a) Indiana
				counties have wide and varied population densities, encompassing rural,
				suburban, and urban areas, which shall be considered in the site selection and
				installation of severe weather warning sirens. Counties shall utilize the
				following guidelines to determine the appropriate audibility and effective
				installation for their severe weather warning sirens:
(1) For those areas within counties electing
				to develop a siren coverage plan that are uninhabited or where there are no
				permanent or temporary dwellings, counties have the option of not installing
				severe weather warning sirens, but shall specify other warning means and
				methods to be employed to warn the public in those specified areas.
(2) Rural areas in participating counties
				where residential housing density is less than one (1) dwelling per one hundred
				(100) acres may consider installing severe weather warning sirens for their
				population. The average ambient background noise level in these areas is
				estimated to be less than thirty (30) dB(C) at ground level. When installing
				severe weather warning sirens in these areas, they shall provide a sound
				pressure level of at least forty (40) dB(C) to be distinguished and heeded by
				the public. Counties have the option of not installing severe weather warning
				sirens in these areas, but shall specify other warning means and methods to be
				employed to warn the public and incorporate this information within their
				county siren coverage plan.
(3)
				Participating Indiana counties with suburban residential areas consisting
				primarily of single family homes with a density of less than one (1) dwelling
				per five (5) acres may consider installing severe weather warning sirens. These
				areas may also include agricultural land use or commercial activity. The
				average ambient background noise in level in similar areas is estimated to be
				approximately forty (40) dB(C) at ground level and the installation of severe
				weather warning sirens shall provide a sound pressure level of at least fifty
				(50) dB(C) to be distinguished and heeded by the public. Counties have the
				option of not installing severe weather warning sirens in these areas, but
				shall specify other warning means and methods to be employed to warn the public
				and incorporate this information within their county siren coverage
				plan.
(4) Counties consisting
				primarily of residential areas with single family homes having an average
				density of less than one (1) dwelling per quarter acre, and which have no
				significant commercial activity, are appropriate for warning sirens. The
				average ambient background noise is estimated at fifty (50) dB(C) at ground
				level, and installation of warning sirens shall provide a sound pressure level
				of at least sixty (60) dB(C) so as to be distinguished and heeded by the
				public. Counties have the option of not installing severe weather warning
				sirens in these areas, but shall specify other warning means and methods to be
				employed to warn the public and incorporate this information within their
				county siren coverage plan.
(5)
				Urban residential areas in counties electing to develop a siren coverage report
				that consist of both single and multifamily housing units that have an average
				population density of one (1) dwelling per quarter acre or more are appropriate
				for severe weather warning sirens. The average ambient background noise is
				estimated in these areas at sixty (60) dB(C) at ground level, and installation
				of warning sirens shall provide a sound pressure level of at least seventy (70)
				dB(C) so as to be distinguished and heeded by the public.
(6) Counties electing to develop a siren
				coverage report with commercial/industrial areas where the daytime population
				density is greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) persons per square
				mile or areas where there are major highways or thoroughfares with estimated
				vehicle counts of over three hundred (300) per hour in a given one-hour period
				are appropriate for severe weather warning sirens. The average ambient
				background noise as estimated at seventy (70) dB(C) at ground level, and
				installation of severe weather warning sirens shall be provide a sound pressure
				level of at least eighty (80) dB(C) so as to be distinguished by the
				public.