Cops in DeKalb: Any tornado sirens heard today are not a test
Doraville police announced Wednesday morning that a scheduled test of a tornado siren had been canceled because of the threat of actual tornadoes.
www.ajc.comHere’s what’s currently happening with tornado sirens, based on recent reporting.
- St. Louis tornado siren issues: A Reuters-free report indicates ongoing problems with siren reliability in St. Louis, with multiple sirens not activating during tests and a plan to repair remaining towers. This highlights that even in urban systems, siren performance can be inconsistent and repairs can take time.[1]
- Statewide siren drills in other states: Some states have conducted statewide or planned drills where sirens sound across the entire or large portions of the state to raise awareness and test reach during severe weather awareness weeks. For example, Kansas and Iowa have scheduled statewide or regional drills in early March and during severe weather weeks, respectively.[2][3]
- Notable recent siren incidents: Reports from other regions show occasional glitches or nonactivation during tests, prompting follow-up tests or system fixes, underscoring that siren systems can face technical hiccups requiring remediation.[4][9]
What this means for you in Los Angeles:
- Los Angeles and much of Southern California rely on alert systems that include sirens more for wildfire, earthquakes, and other hazards, rather than a broad, coast-to-coast tornado siren network. Tornado warnings are primarily issued via NOAA Weather Radio, emergency alerts, and smartphone apps rather than a universal siren sweep as seen in some Midwest regions.[10][1]
- Local drills or tests for tornado-related alerts are less common in this region than in Tornado-prone states, but you can stay prepared by ensuring you have multiple alert channels enabled (NWS alerts, wireless emergency alerts, and a trusted weather app) and by having a quick shelter plan for severe weather days.
If you’d like, I can:
- Find the latest local alerts or emergency management statements for Los Angeles County.
- Break down how to configure emergency alerts on your phone for rapid tornado or severe weather warnings.
- Share a short, actionable tornado/severe weather preparedness checklist tailored to your home.