After 2 inches or more of snow, Skokie enacts alternate side parking rules to aid in snow plowing. While this is a great program that results in cleaner and safer streets in Skokie, the means by which the enactment of the program is announced is antiquated and disruptive: at 7AM when the rules are in effect, the emergency siren is sounded.

Undoubtedly, when this system was set up, the siren was one of very few ways by which the village could announce snow parking to the entire population. But today, the village lists the following ways that residents can stay informed:

• CodeRED alerts
• Skokie website
• Snow hotline
• 1660 AM radio
• SkokieNews emails
• SkokieVision cable
• Emergency siren

With six other viable channels for learning of snow parking rules, Skokie must consider stopping the disruptive use of the emergency siren.

With the siren sounding at 7AM, the emergency siren disrupts many lives:

• Children and adults alike are woken up ( especially on weekends when they might otherwise sleep in). When adults wake up, they may go back to sleep, but children see the sun and jump out of bed, often rousing their parents as well.
• Night shift workers have their sleep schedules disrupted
• Pets are scared and stressed
• Newer residents that don't know what the siren means may become scared or confused

Skokie, PLEASE consider discontinuing the use of the emergency siren to announce snow parking!