Outdoor Warning Sirens

Why Outdoor Warning Sirens Shouldn’t Be Your Only Line of Defense

If you grew up in the Midwest, chances are you’ve heard an outdoor warning siren. That wailing tone is often associated with severe weather or tornadoes. But how much do we actually understand about these systems—and are they enough to keep you safe?

Let’s set the record straight.

What Outdoor Warning Sirens Are (And Aren’t)

Outdoor warning sirens are exactly what the name implies—outdoor. They are intended to alert people who are outside and engaged in activities at locations like parks, schools, sports fields, or large public events.

They were never meant to wake you up in the middle of the night or penetrate the walls of every home. In fact, sirens are based on 1950s-era technology, and while they still serve a purpose, they are not your first or best warning tool—especially indoors.

Why Can’t I Always Hear Them?

On a calm day, you might hear a siren from a mile away. But during severe storms—where wind, rain, and thunder compete for your attention—that range drops dramatically. If you’re standing in an upwind direction, you may not hear the siren even from less than half a mile away.

And remember, sirens don’t announce what kind of warning is happening. They just sound off. That’s not a lot of information to act on.

The Cost and Maintenance Reality

Each siren is expensive—not just in terms of purchase price, but in the manpower and

infrastructure required to:

• Install the unit

• Configure radio communications

• Connect it to a central controller

• Perform routine maintenance to keep it functional

These are local jurisdiction decisions—townships, villages, or cities decide whether to invest in a siren. They are also responsible for the long-term costs of upkeep and testing. Without a regimented maintenance schedule, these systems can become unreliable at the worst possible time.

So, What Should You Do Instead?

You should never rely solely on an outdoor warning siren—especially for alerts inside your home. Instead, make sure you have a multi-layered approach to receiving alerts:

✅ NOAA Weather Radio – It works even if cell towers go down and provides instant

alerts.

✅ Sign up for Clinton County Emergency Alerts – Free and customizable: cc-ema.org/alerts

✅ Use Trusted Weather Apps – Many apps allow you to set multiple locations and customize alert types.

✅ Pay Attention to Your Phone – If it's buzzing with Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), it's for a good reason. That means it's time to act, not scroll.

Who Owns My Siren?

Outdoor warning sirens in Clinton County are owned, funded, and maintained by individual local jurisdictions—meaning each city, village, or township is responsible for deciding whether to install a siren, purchasing it, and keeping it operational through ongoing maintenance. The estimated cost of a single outdoor warning siren in today's dollars ranges from $25,000 to $35,000, depending on features, installation, and site requirements. This price does not include the any installation cost (e.g., pole, equipment rental, travel, or labor, can push it into the $40-50K range per unit).

If you have questions or want to know more about the siren in your area, contact your mayor, village administrator, or township trustee. You can find their contact information in the county phone directory at:

➡️ cc-ema.org/directory

Who Activates My Siren?

There are two ways the outdoor warning sirens in Clinton County can be activated:

Automatically via the National Weather Service (NWS):

• When the NWS issues a Tornado Warning that includes parts of Clinton County, sirens can be triggered automatically based on geographic warning polygons. This system helps ensure that sirens only sound in the areas truly at risk.

Sirens in Clinton County are no longer activated countywide. They are triggered based on specific threat areas identified by the National Weather Service using storm track polygons. This ensures that sirens only sound in locations actually at risk—a more precise and effective approach to public warning. During the early morning hours of Thursday, April 3, areas that may have experienced siren activations include Clarksville, Vernon Township, New Vienna, and Sabina—all within or near the paths of three separate tornado warnings issued between 1:07 AM and 1:30 AM. If your siren didn’t sound, it likely means your area was outside the immediate warning zone. This is why it’s critical to use multiple alert systems, not just sirens, to stay informed during severe weather.

Manually by the Wilmington Police Communications Center:

• The Wilmington Emergency Communications Department (dispatch) can manually activate the sirens if needed, such as during emergencies or for routine testing.

Monthly Testing:

To ensure reliability, sirens are tested at 12:00 PM (Noon) on the first Saturday of each month—weather permitting. If conditions are threatening or overcast, testing may be postponed to avoid confusion.

Final Thoughts

Outdoor warning sirens are a legacy tool that still serve a purpose—but only in the right context. They are meant to alert people who are already outdoors and may not be aware of an approaching threat. Sirens are not guaranteed to be heard indoors, and their performance can vary widely based on distance, weather conditions, and background noise.

Understanding who owns and who activates your local siren is a critical part of being informed. But more importantly, sirens should never be your only method of receiving emergency alerts.

To stay safe:

• Own a NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup.

• Sign up for free alerts at cc-ema.org/alerts.

• Use trusted weather apps and pay attention when your phone issues Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

Preparedness is layered. When your phone buzzes, your radio sounds, and your app flashes a warning—it’s time to act. Don’t wait for a siren that might never reach you.

Preparedness is protection. Take weather warnings seriously—no matter how they arrive.