Joplin to test tornado sirens Wednesday
JOPLIN, Mo. — Residents of Joplin can expect to hear the sound of tornado sirens this Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. as the city conducts a routine test of the outdoor emergency siren system. The test follows recent minor maintenance, including battery upgrades, and serves as a check to ensure the system functions properly in case of severe weather.
Joplin city officials say there is no severe weather expected, and that the time of the test and the sounding of the sirens is a precautionary measure. Sirens will blare for three minutes as they would in an actual emergency.
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Joplin Emergency Management Director Dave Holden says the outdoor sirens are intended to alert people outdoors to seek immediate shelter. The sirens are not always audible indoors and should not be the sole source of weather warnings for residents. In addition to the outdoor sirens, he says residents are urged to use a NOAA Weather Radio, and install local weather apps on their phones.
“The advantage of having a weather radio is that you hear the alerts directly from the National Weather Service and are kept current on the warning status,” says Holden. “The phone apps also provide notifications and current information that is helpful during severe weather.”
City officials also say residents are encouraged to take this test as a reminder to review their emergency preparedness plans and ensure they have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.
