Washington County changes siren test schedule

WASHINGTON — the Washington County Communications Center will be changing the schedule for the testing of its outdoor warning siren system. Testing of the sirens has taken place on the last Saturday of each month for many years, but after much discussion among city and county officials, the scheduled tests will transition to take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m.

Testing on a weekday will ensure that staff in each city can verify the functionality of the siren and notify the Communications Center immediately in the event of a failure or malfunction.

“The testing and activation of the outdoor warning sirens is a responsibility of the Washington County Communications Center, and it is imperative that we conduct testing when city officials are available to verify the results,” said 911 Supervisor Cara Sorrells. “We rely on these devices to notify the public during the onset of severe storms to seek shelter. These changes in the testing protocol will improve the existing procedures and help us identify potential problems before a severe weather event occurs.”

If any member of the public notices an issue during monthly testing, they are also encouraged to notify the county by calling 319-653-2107. Some cities have multiple sirens, so it is important to note if one of the sirens is not functioning properly in your area.

There will not be a test on Saturday, May 27, but there will be a test on Wednesday, June 7.