Emergency Alert Sirens Policy

O’Fallon, Illinois – Based on information received during a comparison of surrounding communities, the City of O’Fallon will be modifying its activation policy for the City’s emergency alert sirens. O’Fallon’s emergency alert sirens will be activated during a tornado warning or when it has been confirmed that damaging force winds with a sustained speed of 65+ mph will impact the City of O’Fallon.

“The wide variety of variables involved in predicting the weather make it impossible to determine the exact set of conditions necessary for an alert; therefore, we will always error to the side of caution when making the decision to activate the system,” said Mayor Roach. “That said, we will endeavor to make the most judicious use of the system so that we do not create a climate of complacency.”

When the Sirens are activated, you are encouraged to proceed to an interior room on the lowest level of your home or business and monitor local television, radio, weather alert radio or other source of current weather data for the most up-to-date information. O’Fallon’s system features only one alert signal, a constant siren, and we do not sound an “all clear” alert following system activation.

The City of O’Fallon uses an Emergency Alerting System composed of nine (9) sirens strategically located throughout the City. The system is designed to alert residents and visitors of potentially severe weather, including tornado warnings and severe storms with high winds.

Information for the activation of the system can come from several sources including the National Weather Service, St. Clair County, State or Federal Agencies, local Public Officials and/or first-hand observations. Most often, the emergency telecommunicators responsible for activating the system rely on teletypes from the National Weather Service and local television and radio weather reports for information regarding storm conditions. As part of a regional program, O’Fallon’s sirens are tested the first Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Grant Litteken at 618-624-4500 x 8760 or email at [email protected].