Harewood Siren Test

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Personal Observation 

I was curious to see if the 100% volume, three minute test of the Harewood emergency siren would cause confusion or concern with those in hearing distance. I live in the Terminal Park area, and a month or so ago when they did a 50% test I was aware of the siren. I imagined a 100% test in the immediate vicinity would be quite, well alarming.

During the entire test I drove the block created by Sixth Street, Bruce Ave. and Seventh Street to observe peoples reaction and also get a sense first hand of what a full-on siren sounded like. I was a little surprised at how quiet it actually seemed to be. A police, fire or ambulance siren certainly seems to be much 'louder' although they all are supposed to be operating at the same number of decibels approximately.

I noted as I was at the corner of Sixth and Bruce that the siren didn't really sound loud at all and wondered if anyone living in the apartments on that corner would even hear them inside their homes. Either because of a lot of advance warning, or the fact the alarm was not all that loud, any of the people I observed walking on the street didn't seem to pay any attention at all.

Future tests will be quieter by 50% and only last 30 seconds in future months, there will also be no school evacuation drills either.