Extreme Weather & Lightning Sirens

Extreme Weather / Tornado Sirens
The village installed 4 extreme weather / tornado sirens in and around the village to alert citizens who may be outdoors when a tornado warning is issued. The sirens are not intended to alert people indoors. It is highly recommended that each residence, business, school and church purchase weather alert radios that are automatically activated during severe weather occurrences.

The extreme weather / tornado sirens are activated when severe weather or a tornado is in the area. When sirens are activated they sound continuously for 3 minutes. Please take shelter immediately in the lowest floor of your home. If you do not have a basement, take shelter in an interior room away from windows for the most protection.

There is no all clear signal or sound that is activated when the warning has been canceled or expired. We suggest you monitor local radio or TV for weather updates during severe weather or if you hear the siren activated. Please do not call 911 when you hear these sirens.

System Tests
Test of the system is conducted the 1st Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. At that time the siren is sounded for 1 minute. The monthly tests are conducted to test the operation of the sirens and to familiarize the citizens with the sound of the siren should extreme weather / tornadoes be in our area.

The system also allows an "attack" mode. This is a wavering sound and is only used for homeland security warnings.

Lightning Detection Sirens
Lightning Detection Sirens are located at the Bloomingdale Golf Course and at eleven Bloomingdale Park District parks, including: Circle, Indian Lakes, Lakeview, Leslie, Old Town, Seasons Four, Springfield, Stratford, Sunnyside, Tompkins, and Westlake. The sirens operate from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, and will activate when lightning is detected within 10 miles of the transmitter, (located inside the clubhouse of the Bloomingdale Golf Club).  Once activated, a high pitch multi-tone alarm will sound for 10 seconds, and a flashing strobe light will display  (parks only) until a single-tone “all-clear” alarm sounds and the white strobe lights stop flashing. The “All-Clear” alarm will be triggered after 15 minutes have passed from the time the last lighting strike has been detected within the 10 mile radius of the transmitter.   Please note, after 9:00 p.m. only the strobe lights will activate in the parks.  

The new detection system provides louder tones, a more visible strobe light, located on the side of each unit.  To indicate that all of the units are communicating properly with the lightning transmitter, there is a green LED light visible on each unit.  If, instead, a red LED light is viewed, please notify the Bloomingdale Park District at 630-529-3650, since this indicates a problem with the communication connection.

If you hear the siren and/or see the white flashing strobe light, please leave the golf course and park grounds immediately to take shelter and not return until the single tone alarm sounds and/or the strobe light stops flashing. For more information, please contact the Bloomingdale Park District.

Keep in mind, like all technology, the system is not foolproof. It is still the responsibility of all coaches, golfers, players, etc. to seek shelter any time lightning is seen or thunder is heard.  Whenever lightning is observed or thunder is heard, all outdoor activities should be suspended for a minimum of 30 minutes after the last sign of lightning or thunder is noted.