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A new siren alarm system is being tested at the Birchwood Terrace apartment building on Portage Avenue on Tuesday. The apartment building was ordered evacuated last month due to structural deterioration that City officials said could cause the building to collapse.
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“People in the surrounding area will hear a loud siren go off at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.,” the City of Winnipeg announced Monday. “It is just a test, and no actions need to be taken.”
Approximately 250 residents were forced to evacuate the apartment building on May 9 after the property owner’s contracted engineer discovered deterioration of multiple steel columns in the parkade, which led them notify the City of Winnipeg of the situation and their urgent concerns about the building’s condition.
At the time, the City’s head of Emergency Management said the decision to vacate was necessary to ensure the safety of the residents.
The alarm has been installed to alert people in the area if there’s a change to the building’s stability, or if there’s a risk of collapse, the City said. If the alarm goes off outside of the testing times, residents who are in homes or nearby buildings should shelter in place.
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People who are outside in the area should move away from the area immediately if they hear the siren go off. Drivers who hear the siren go off should also exit the area as quickly as possible.
Residents who are on evacuation alert have been instructed to immediately evacuate if the alarm goes off. They will be notified when it’s safe to return home.
An audible “all clear” will be announced using a loudspeaker when the area has been deemed safe.
There is also a possibility of a false alarm. If this happens, residents should treat it as a real alarm.
The alarm system is expected to remain in place for the next three to four weeks.
glen.dawkins@kleinmedia.ca
X: @SunGlenDawkins
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