Severe Weather Awareness

Severe weather can happen anytime, and can include hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms, including damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, flooding, and winter storms, among other weather events. This webpage offers information and resources to help you stay informed and safe during these types of emergencies. 

Village Warning Sirens 
Northbrook has a siren warning system installed throughout the community. The system consists of a series of sirens located and is intended to provide warning of impending danger. The primary purpose of warning sirens is to notify individuals who are outdoors at the time of a threat of a probable or imminent tornado. Warning sirens are not designed to penetrate the walls of homes and businesses, which means you may not always hear them inside a home or building. For that reason, it is important to sign up for Village notifications and have a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio as part of your emergency preparedness plan.

What should you do when you hear the warning sirens activate?
Do not call 9-1-1 when the warning sirens are activated unless you have an actual emergency. Calling 9-1-1 may tie up the dispatch center’s resources when true emergencies may be occurring. 

If indoors at the time of activation:

  1. Seek shelter immediately in the lowest level of your house, preferably in an interior room away from doors and windows.
  2. Tune into radio or television stations for the latest information.
  3. Remain in your place of shelter until the threat has passed.

If outdoors at the time of activation:

  1. Seek shelter indoors, but not in a car or mobile home.
  2. If there are no safe options indoors and a tornado is imminent, lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression and use your hands to cover your head.

Click here for more information about the Village's warning sirens.

Village Notifications
Looking for updates from the Village on information you care about or need to know? Northbrook Notify provides emergency alerts via email, text, and/or voice call. In times of emergency, the Village also uses its website and social media platforms to disseminate information. To sign-up for these various communication methods, click here. 

NOAA Weather Radios
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends every home have a NOAA weather radio so families can monitor severe weather and other dangerous storms. Weather radios transmit forecasts and severe weather warnings and watches from the National Weather Service (NWS) that come across the NOAA radio network 24 hours a day. The radio network broadcasts information about thunderstorms, tornado warnings, floods, winter storms, and other severe weather as well as information about AMBER alerts and 911 telephone outages. NOAA Weather Radio Receivers are available to the public at electronic supply stores at a cost typically ranging from $30 to $100. For more information about weather radios go to www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/.  

Other Weather Monitoring Resources 
General awareness is the key to dealing with severe weather. You can be better prepared just by monitoring local weather reports to determine when you need to take certain precautions. Monitoring the weather has never been easier thanks to a variety of tools available, including the internet, television, mobile applications, and weather radios, that can help keep you up to date. Check out some of the following websites where you can monitor the weather and/or sign-up to receive weather alerts: