Lightning and Tornado Sirens

 

Tornadoes

Tornado sirens have been installed to alert the citizens of Commerce who may be outdoors during the time a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service for the City of Commerce or Hunt County.  

  • The sirens are not intended to alert people indoors during a warning
  • It is highly recommended that each residence, business, school and church purchase weather alert radios that are automatically activated during severe weather occurrences
  • More information can be obtained on the radios by calling the Commerce Police Department at 903/886-1139. 

Tornado Warning 

This outdoor warning system was installed to alert citizens of Commerce and the A&M – Commerce campus community when a tornado has been sighted or conditions are favorable. It is manually activated and will be done by the dispatchers at the Commerce Police Department or the Texas A&M University – Commerce Police Department. 

  • The alarm’s warning consists of a loud siren that has only one sound and will NOT give an all clear sound after the danger has passed.
  • When you hear the tornado warning siren you should take cover immediately. 
  • The City of Commerce Division of Emergency Management will also interrupt cable broadcasting during this time. 
  • The tornado warning siren is designed to be heard outdoors and may not be audible indoors. To protect yourselves and your family you may purchase the To hear the alarm,: Tornado Warning System Alarm

The first Wednesday of every month the tornado warning sirens will automatically be activated at noon

  • If severe weather is forecast, or is observed in the area, the monthly test will be postponed until the next monthly noon test to avoid confusion
  • The monthly tests are conducted to test the operation of the sirens and to familiarize the citizens with the sound of the siren, should a tornado ever strike. 

Lightning

ThorGuard 
This outdoor warning system alerts people on the Texas A&M University – Commerce campus and the residents of Commerce when there is a 20% chance of a lightning strike within 2 miles of the campus. 

ThorGuard has sensors that detect lightning and will automatically sound a “Red Alert”. This is an air horn blast that is 15 seconds in length. To hear the alarm: Lightning Alarm System -Red Alert

 When conditions are deemed safe by ThorGuard, the “All Clear” will sound. The “All clear” consists of three (3) air horn blasts that are 5 seconds in length. To hear the alarm: Lightening Alarm System – All Clear 

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