18 Tornado Sirens To Be Tested Next Week

St. Louis County has announced it will re-test 18 of its new tornado sirens during the week of Jan. 9-13. The one-minute tests are scheduled between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Last Monday, all 185 sirens were tested. Each of the 18 sirens to be tested next week generated multiple calls following either that test or the Labor Day test in 2011. Following both tests, residents reported they were unable to hear the sirens; under the old system, they could hear them.

The sirens in question are scattered across St. Louis County. The county's  announcement didn't say which sirens would be tested. Its website has a map that locates all 185 sirens in the system.

“We need to ensure that the 18 sirens perform as they’re supposed to perform,” said David Barney, director of the county’s Emergency Communications Commission. “Each of the 18 will be individually tested and adjusted accordingly, if necessary.

“However, we want to emphasize that these sirens are designed to be heard outdoors. If residents can’t hear them when they’re in the basement, that doesn’t necessarily mean the siren is malfunctioning,” he said.

Before a siren is activated, “This is only a test,” will be announced from the device about to be tested.

In an actual emergency, the sirens would wail continuously for three minutes. Their activation is an alert that a tornado or tornadoes are approaching the region, and residents need to take cover immediately.

The exception to this is the first Monday of every month, at 11 a.m., when the sirens are tested.