Rice County Siren Activation

Rice County follows the siren activation recommendations of both the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers and the National Weather Service.

Outdoor warning sirens are activated to promote situational awareness for citizens of a dangerous or potentially dangerous weather situation within Rice County.  Upon hearing outdoor warning sirens, it is important that all persons immediately refer to local media (radio, TV, weather radio, trusted websites, etc.) for additional information.

There are set criteria for when sirens are activated.

As recommended by the National Weather Service and in agreement with Rice County, the activation of warning sirens is based on the following weather related criteria:

Tornadoes: Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service and/or tornado or funnel cloud reported by local Law Enforcement, Emergency Responders, or Emergency Management personnel based upon reports received by trained severe weather spotters.

Severe Thunderstorms: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued by the National Weather Service that clearly reports sustained wind speed estimates of at least 70 mph and/or 2.5" and larger hail for Rice County and the cities within the National Weather Service warning polygon box that are in the predicted path of the storm.

Siren Duration: Sirens will be activated for a full cycle; roughly 3 minutes.  Sirens may be activated for an additional cycle if new warnings are declared for the area.

All Clear: There is no such thing as an “all-clear” siren, so a second or third activation means that the threat is still imminent and finding or staying in a safe shelter area is strongly encouraged.

Outdoor weather sirens in Rice County are activated by quadrants...10 separate ones to be exact.

This means, for example, if a Tornado Warning were issued for eastern Rice County, outdoor weather sirens may only be sounded for Nerstrand and/or Northfield, depending on the polygon drawn by the National Weather Service for the warning, but not for Lonsdale or Morristown. The system is designed this way so people in unaffected areas such as western Rice County aren't alerted unnecessarily.

Quadrants include Faribault, Northfield, Dundas, Nerstrand, Morristown, Warsaw, Millersburg, The Lakes, Veseli, and Lonsdale. Each municipality also has the equipment and ability to sound their siren(s) on their own if necessary. The City of Northfield, as a matter of policy, makes their own siren activation decisions.

The sirens use wireless technology to listen to their command to sound, and that command can come from several locations. The Rice/Steele Pearl Street dispatch center, Rice County Emergency Management offices at the law enforcement center, through mobile sources if necessary, and even manually as a last resort.

It is important to note that you may not hear sirens indoors, because they weren't designed for that, so have a weather radio or cellphone in your home or business.

Initially designed to alert individuals outdoors, warning sirens were primarily intended to be heard outside during the 1950s. However, as urbanization and changes in building construction have evolved, with the prevalence of materials like concrete and insulation that dampen sound, the effectiveness of outdoor sirens in alerting those indoors has diminished. Consequently, advancements in warning technology have aimed to address this gap by integrating indoor alert systems such as NOAA Weather Radio and smartphone alerts, ensuring that individuals indoors can receive timely warnings despite the challenges posed by modern construction. This shift reflects a broader strategy to enhance tornado preparedness by adapting to changing environmental and architectural landscapes, ultimately prioritizing the safety of individuals both inside and outside during tornado events.

But why am I hearing the sirens go off when there is no bad weather at all?

It is important that the outdoor warning sirens be tested on a regular schedule to ensure proper operation. Testing occurs on the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Federal and state guidelines indicate that monthly warning system tests should occur in the following manner:

• Alert Warning signal (steady siren) will sound for 1 minute

• One minute of silence

• Attack Warning signal (wavering siren) will sound for 1 minute

You may also hear a very, very brief windup and release of the sirens for about a second now and again. This is done automatically by the sirens to ensure the siren motor and gearing systems are kept active so they won't seize up.

More About the Outdoor Alert Siren

The "outdoor alert siren". Today, they are almost exclusively used to warn residents of a community, while they are outdoors, of hazardous weather events. But they weren't always used for that.

During the cold war in the 1950s, sirens were acquired and installed by Civil Defense agencies throughout the country as part of Harry Truman's Civil Defense Act. They were designed to warn people of a pending nuclear attack. In other words, if you heard the siren, you "ducked and covered" to protect yourself from the bright detonation flash and subsequent shock wave and fallout.

Later, in the early 1970s, they started to be used to alert residents of tornadoes and significant severe weather events as well.

During every 1st Wednesday of the month test, you hear two distinct patterns. The first is what we call "alert mode". That's when the sirens spin up and produce a steady tone for a duration of time, and then spin back down. That mode gets used during severe weather. Then, the "attack mode" is tested. That is the classic "rise and fall" pattern that is commonly associated with a nuclear attack. Both are always tested, because you just never know.

Today, the severe weather alert sirens mean one thing. "Something urgent is going on. Get inside, and check your local radio, or online news source for more information." That is their sole job. Always remember, THERE IS NEVER AN ALL CLEAR SIGNAL. Several factors such as cut electrical lines or mechanical failure could cause sirens to stop sounding, but the threat could still be very real.

With today's efficient homes and commercial buildings, you will need a NOAA weather radio, weather app on your cell phone, or other way to alert you indoors instead of relying on the sirens. Despite that fact, the sirens still provide a useful and important service in Rice County.

Helpful Links:

City of Faribault emergency siren coverage map and locations