Emergency Warning System Test With Birdsong, Boulder, Colorado - disquiet0436 by morgulbee

The city of Boulder, Colorado performs monthly tests of its public warning system. I recorded the May 4, 2020 test from about two miles outside the city. The sounds are distant, but still loud enough to cause concern if one were not expecting the test.

The recording starts with a barely audible spoken announcement "This is a warning system test", overwhelmed by sounds of birds, dog walkers and local automobile traffic. After a short delay, the sirens rise in pitch and seem to play sustained chords for a few minutes. The birds continue chittering, unconcerned by the sirens in the distance. After the sirens drop, the final spoken announcement "This is a warning system test" is repeated a number of times as the test ends. The test lasts nearly five minutes.

I heard the warning system during a real emergency in September 2013. "Flooding in progress, do not cross Boulder Creek" or words to that effect were repeated along with the sirens for an extended period of time. The danger was real. Hopefully some lives were saved by the warning system.