What is "Did You Hear It?" (DYHI)? 

Residents of Southern Marin are encouraged to participate in Southern Marin Fire District's "Did You Hear It ?" (DYHI) campaign. DYHI was developed to tap the abundant information available about the on-going LRAD monthly testing from residents who experience them within Southern Marin Fire District's jurisdiction. By taking advantage of the vast number of Internet users, we can get a more complete description of what people experienced, the effects of the monthly testing, and the extent of missing coverage. And best of all, with your help we can do so almost instantly.

Be a part of our team and share your experience by completing the "Did you hear it?" form. As a reminder, don't call 911 when you hear sirens or as a means in providing feedback to the "Did You Hear It" campaign. Use 911 for life-threatening emergencies only. If you hear the siren at any other time, tune in to KQED 88.5 FM, KCBS 740 AM or KGO 810 AM and local TV stations for further information.

By contributing your experience of the notification system, either immediately afterward, or whenever it is possible for you to do so, you make a contribution to the body of information about each activation of the system. You also ensure that your area has been represented in the evacuation drill and siren testing network. This is a two-way street: not only will you add valuable information on the extent of the system coverage, but in the process we hope you will learn more about how other communities gain a greater understanding of this part of the emergency notification system.

DYHI data are now being used in a number of applications. For example:

• Providing sound sculpting data for coverage and future site locations.
• Evaluating community understanding of the notification system.
• Educating the public of why monthly testing is required in the area.
• Comparing the results of sound projection maps with DYHI responses.

How will I now if testing is in my neighborhood? 

Emergency testing of the notification system is actively underway on the first Saturday of the month at 12 noon within the jurisdiction of Southern Marin Fire District. All sites are tested monthly, save the Homestead Valley Community Center. The Homestead location is only tested on the first Sat. of the months during the months of August - January. 

What is LRAD? 

Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) emergency alert systems are unique in that they can project both siren and voice recordings to alert and inform community members during a large-scale disaster. The new sirens are the first land-based LRAD system in Marin County.

Why LRAD sirens?

The purchase and installation of the LRAD system goes a long way to improve the resiliency and redundancy of our communication systems. LRAD systems are highly effective in communicating warnings, instructions, and notifications throughout incident sites and over vast areas during life-threatening events.

History of LRAD & other sirens in Southern Marin?

LRAD systems are currently installed in five locations through-out the City of Mill Valley and tested on the first Saturday of every month. Mill Valley replaced the existing sirens in 2019. Mill Valley replaced sirens similar to those being utilized as outdoor sirens currently in multiple locations though-out the Town of Tiburon.

The Town of Tiburon alerts, known as SNAP (Siren Notification Alerting the Peninsula), is a rotating beacon style horn that will sound if the area has been cut off from outside resources. Find out more by visiting the SNAP webpage with more specific details.

Most all fire stations have had horns and sirens in the past that would be tested on the first Saturday of each month. Advancements in technology and increased wildfire threats have lead emergency services to increase the installation and expansion of outdoor sirens through-out the community.

Where are we now?

Currently funding has been secured for 3additional LRAD sites for the Southern Marin Fire District communities. Southern Marin Fire Protection District plans to install three additional LRADs to the following locations: South Sausalito, Tamalpais Valley, and the City of Mill Valley (Blithedale Ridge & around Camino Alto/Miller).

These installations have been broken into phases based on funding sources through the MWPA (Marin Wildfire Protection Authority). Some phases are then subdivided into parts to accommodate installation requirements, such as permitting and environmental review. The goal is to expedite these installations based on the need, while still providing for the oversight of local councils and stake holders. Public outreach has been broadcasted for years through public evacuation drills and "Living room meeting", both hosted jointly by local fire and police agencies. This page went live for Southern Marin on August 28, 2021.

The communities of Sausalito, Mill Valley, Tam Valley, Homestead, Strawberry/Alto, and Tiburon have partial LRAD coverage for the outdoor notification system. Continued installations will further expand the coverage into the heart of Homestead and the Southern part of Sausalito. The goal remains to provide a comprehensive network that is capable of reaching as much of the population through out the District.

FY 22_23 -Additional LRAD site locations were approved for CORE funding within the 2022-23 MWPA Work Plan for the Southern Region. This plan describes the efforts to evaluate and prepare multiple locations. There will be 2 (two) additional sites added from this list of locations. This project will be referred to as "Phase Three" on this page.

NEXT STEPS Last updated May 10th, 2023

PHASE ONE-Part 1 installations: COMPLETED Late Summer 2021 - SMFD Fire Stations #4 and #9 (Tam Valley & Strawberry)

-Replaced station sirens and commissioned system for emergency use & future testing (October 2021)  

PHASE ONE-Part 2 installations: COMPLETED October 2022 - Proposed sites in City of Sausalito, City of Mill Valley, and the Town of Tiburon.

COMPLETED - June 6th, 2022 - City of Mill Valley - Resolution for LRAD on Edgewood, Mill Valley owned Land

      August 30th, 2022 - City of Sausalito Council Meeting - Resolution for LRAD on City of Sausalito Land

            September 15th & 16th, 2022 - "Getting Ready with L.R.A.D." Sausalito Community Meeting on Zoom

            October 1st, 2022 @ 12 Noon - First LRAD testing for Sausalito, Tiburon, and Mill Valley, Edgewood.

-COMPLETED filling for Notice of Exemption with Marin County Clerk's office. (December 2021)

-In review with local agencies for permits and zoning. (Final September 2022)

Prepared document(s): Categorical Exemption Determination Memorandum (September 2021)

     Application for L.R.A.D. NOE for SMFD (September 2021)

PHASE TWO installations: COMPLETED - October 2022 - Two sites in City of Sausalito / PENDING - January 2023 - Homestead site with Marin County Parks

     August 30th, 2022 - City of Sausalito Council Meeting - Resolution for LRAD on City of Sausalito Land

                                        September 15th & 16th, 2022 - "Getting Ready with L.R.A.D." Sausalito Community Meeting on Zoom

                                        October 1st, 2022 @ 12 Noon - First LRAD testing for Sausalito, Tiburon, and Mill Valley, Edgewood.

 -COMPLETED filling for Notice of Exemption with Marin County Clerk's office. (September 2021)

 Prepared document(s): Application & Categorical Exemption Determination Memorandum (September 2021)

-COMPLETED - Homestead LRAD site at HVA Community Center - Summer of 2023

PHASE THREE installations: TBD Summer of 2023 - Proposed sites in Marin City, Eastwood Park (Tam Valley), or South Sausalito.

-COMPLETED - Notice of Exemption and submitted to the Marin County Clerk's office.

-COMPLETED with local agencies for permits and zoning. (TBD Spring 2023)

-COMPELTED - Eastwood Park Community Meeting (May 10th, 2023 @ 5:00 pm)

 Prepared document(s): Categorical Exemption Determination Memorandum (2023)

Presentation to Tam Valley Community Service District Board of Directors (April 2023)

Eastwood Park Site Maps presented to TCSD Board of Directors

PHASE FOUR installations: Proposed sites in Marin City, Eastwood Park (Tam Valley), or South Sausalito.

-COMPLETED - Instillation at the fire station in Marin City in the Spring of 2023

-COMPLETED - Installation at Eastwood Park in the Spring of 2023.

-PENDING -Site access in South Sausalito under review for installation with NPS (National Parks Service).

-Upcoming - Present to the City of Sausalito for resolution to install final siren around Hecht Ave., Sausalito. Date TBD.

2024-2025 installations: TBD late Spring of 2025 - Proposed sites in City of Mill Valley (Blithdale Ridge), Countyview Dr. (Tam Valley), and/or South Sausalito.

-COMPLETED -Secure funding with MWPA for new sites in 2-3 locations.

-Upcoming - Present to the City of Sausalito for resolution to install final siren around Hecht Ave., Sausalito. Date TBD.

-Upcoming - Present to the City of Mill Valley for resolution to install an additional siren around privately owned land on Blithedale Ridge. Date TBD.

-Upcoming - Present to the Tam Valley Community Service District (TCSD) board for resolution to install additional siren along County View Dr. Date TBD.

-Pending - Environmental compliance for all three new sites.

-TBD - Scheduled installation of all three sites. Late spring of 2025

Last updated 11/12/2024

ABOUT THE LRAD EMERGENCY SIRENS

What do they sound like?

When will you use them?

In the event of a disaster or large-scale emergency, one or all of the sirens may be activated to alert residents to tune into local media (City website, social media, radio and television stations) for further information and instructions. 

Don't call 9-1-1...

When you hear sirens. Use 911 for life-threatening emergencies only. The City of Mill Valley emergency warning system is tested on the first Saturday of each month at noon and the many of the new installations are expected to be tested on that same schedule. Installation dates for new sirens may require additional notifications to the surrounding residents via Nixle or Alert Marin, that it is only a test. If you hear the siren at any other time, tune in to KQED 88.5 FM, KCBS 740 AM or KGO 810 AM and local TV stations for further information.

Featured Picture:  Above is a map of the proposed L.R.A.D. coverage areas to provide notification to residents in an emergency. This image was provided as part of the 2021 projects for proposed installation of the first five sirens in the SMFD response area. Not all the individual sites listed will receive an installation of L.R.A.D., yet these areas will be slated to receive coverage as the system is installed and the network is enhanced and expanded. For specific questions on this program please contact the Fire Prevention Division at 415-380-1120.