Tornado Siren Test Set For Next Week

Weather permitting, McDonald County will test outdoor tornado warning sirens next week, according to McDonald County Emergency Management Agency Director Gregg Sweeten.

Missouri’s annual statewide tornado drill will be held at 10 a. m. Tuesday, March 7. If weather conditions are good, the cities of Pineville, Anderson, Noel, Southwest City and Goodman will test their tornado warning sirens at that time.

The next day, Wednesday, March 8, McDonald County will host its standard test at 10 a.m., weather permitting.

Residents should note, however, that the outdoor warning sirens

“These alerts are not automated; we have to type them in as they are needed. We also use this system to track dangerous storms throughout our county.” — Gregg Sweeten McDonald County Emergency Management Agency Director

are primarily utilized to alert those who are outdoors at parks or events, Sweeten said.

Residents who are located close to a siren within one of those cities will likely hear the testing. However, sirens are not located in rural areas, he said.

Testing is usually conducted in near perfect weather conditions. During a storm, though, the loud sounds of rain, winds and thunder can drastically reduce the coverage, he added.

A personal NOAA weather radio in your home can certainly help keep you informed of impending weather situations, he said. Another option, which is provided free, is the countywide alert system which sends residents a text from the county Emergency Management office.

To register, text the keyword “mcdonaldmo” to 888777. A response will be sent back to acknowledge the registration is complete.

“These alerts are not automated; we have to type them in as they are needed,” Sweeten said. “We also use this system to track dangerous storms throughout our county.”

This alerting service doesn’t cost the county or any participant. The McDonald County Emergency Management Agency provides the free service to keep residents safe, he said.

Residents need to take precautions and be prepared before a storm hits.

“If anyone needs help with programming their weather radio, they can contact me and I will be more than happy to program it for them,” Sweeten said.

Residents also can learn of approaching bad weather through weather apps on a phone, but those apps are not foolproof.

“Sometimes there is a lag time and that can be dangerous,” he said.

For more information, contact the McDonald County Emergency Management Agency at 417-223-7575.