Since it is Tornado season in the midwest, the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency has answered some Frequently Asked Questions regarding Outdoor Warning Sirens.

Q: When are the Outdoor Warning Sirens activated?

A: Outdoor Warning Sirens are activated under two conditions:
— When a Tornado Warning is issued by the National Weather Service; or
— In the event a trained storm spotter reports a funnel cloud or tornado sighting.

Q: How long do Outdoor Warning Sirens sound?

A: While this may differ on location, Johnson County, Mo., sirens go off for three minutes once activated. During the event of a warning, the sirens will go off every 10 minutes until the warning is no
longer in effect.

Q: Do the Outdoor Warning Sirens ever sound an all clear?

A: NO! The Johnson County, Mo., sirens will never sound an all clear. Outdoor Warning Sirens are to warn individuals outside to seek shelter because dangerous weather is approaching. At this point, they should seek out other means of communication regarding the storm- such as a Weather Radio or local news on the radio, etc.- for further updates.