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Lewistown and LaBelle Outdoor Storm Warning Siren Testing Begins

 

(LEWIS COUNTY, MO) With the severe weather season quickly approaching, Lewistown and LaBelle will begin testing their outdoor warning sirens on a monthly basis to ensure that they are operational year round.   NECOMM 911 (Northeast MO Emergency Communications Center) in conjunction with area Fire Department and Emergency Management officials will conduct the tests for Lewistown and LaBelle on the 2nd Monday of every month at 10:00 am.

Storm sirens are activated by NECOMM whenever a tornado is spotted by Lewis County emergency officials or when a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning (with 70 mph winds or hail larger than golf balls) is issued by the National Weather Service office in St. Louis. NECOMM reminds everyone that outdoor sirens are designed to alert people who are “outdoors” when severe weather threatens.

Most sirens cannot be heard inside buildings or if you live outside city limits. When you hear the siren, you should immediately seek shelter inside the lowest level of a sturdy building. Every home and business should have a working NOAA weather radio to alert you of all severe weather hazards 24 hours a day. In addition, there are numerous weather apps for your smart phone that can warn of approaching severe weather wherever you are – with many of them available to download for free. Elsewhere in Lewis County, siren testing for the City of Canton is at 10:30 am on the 2nd Monday of each month. The City of LaGrange and Wakonda State   Park sirens are tested at 10:00 am on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.

Siren testing will be cancelled whenever there is an actual threat of severe weather in the area at the time of the test and re-scheduled for the following day, weather permitting. If you have any questions about your outdoor severe weather sirens you can contact your local fire department or City Hall for more information.