To provide additional safety to everyone who visits our outdoor facilities, an early-warning lightning detection system is being installed near selected parks, pools and golf courses.
The Perry Weather outdoor warning system is a completely wireless, cloud-based emergency alert and lightning warning system that is constantly operational and integrated with the most reliable lightning detection network to provide weather risk monitoring and warning.
All parks are set 8 a.m.-9 p.m. with the exception of Atcher, Meineke and Bock which are on until 11 p.m. because those facilities stay open longer. The siren systems are turned on from May 1 through Dec. 1.
The system is also equipped with a public address functionality, which allows these units to function as an emergency management address tool, with the ability to broadcast personalized text-to-speech messages. Schaumburg Park District worked with Perry Weather to ensure that the outdoor warning system in parks throughout the community is capable of ensuring that all residential areas can hear an alert from a nearby park.
The following procedures are to be followed when potentially dangerous weather exists:
Warning Signal
A warning signal (one long 15-second horn) will sound and strobe lights will activate when a potentially dangerous weather situation is in the area, along with a strobe light flash while the alert remains active, and three short horn blasts and the cessation of the strobe light indicating an All Clear.
Procedures
All activities in the park should end immediately and patrons should leave the park. It is recommended that park patrons seek shelter in their cars or a building. All park patrons should wait until the lightning prediction system performs an All Clear Signal before returning to the park.
All Clear Signal
The All Clear Signal (three short horn blasts, two seconds apart) will sound and the strobe lights will deactivate. After the All Clear Signal sounds and the strobe lights deactivate, park patrons may resume their activities.
Caution
The Perry Weather system helps assess the conditions. Neither the signal nor the system is intended to guarantee that conditions are safe. If the weather is threatening and no warning signal is heard or seen, use good judgment and clear the field. Do not wait for the warning signal to activate, as the system can malfunction.