Scott County's Outdoor Warning Sirens 04/02/2026

Outdoor Warning Sirens

Scott County Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with local public safety partners, is reminding residents about the purpose of outdoor warning sirens and when they may be activated.

Outdoor warning sirens are meant to alert people who are outside about a potentially life-threatening situation. Sirens are just one of several alerting tools and are not designed to be heard indoors. Residents are advised to rely on multiple alerting methods to ensure they receive timely notifications during emergencies, such as NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Alert Iowa, and local media.

The purpose of the sirens is to alert individuals to a possible threat that could cause injury or death. When sirens sound, individuals should immediately seek shelter and obtain additional information from local media or trusted emergency information sources.

SIRENS MAY BE ACTIVATED FOR

Severe Weather

• Tornado Warning
• Tornado or funnel cloud reported by trained spotters
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning with destructive winds (70 mph+)
• Golf ball size hail (1.75") or larger

Other Life-Threatening Emergencies

• Hazardous materials incidents
• Radiological emergencies
• Major fires or explosions
• Law enforcement emergencies
• Other immediate threats to life safety

WHAT TO DO WHEN SIRENS SOUND

• Go indoors immediately
• Seek appropriate shelter
• Monitor local TV, radio, NOAA Weather Radio, or official alerts

COUNTYWIDE ACTIVATION

Scott County utilizes a countywide activation approach. When sirens are activated for any warning meeting policy criteria, sirens throughout Scott County may be activated to provide consistent life-safety messaging.

WHY SIRENS MAY BE RE-SOUNDED

Sirens typically sound for 3–5 minutes and may be re-sounded every 10–15 minutes for the duration of the threat. This helps:

• Alert individuals who did not hear the initial activation
• Warn people who have gone outdoors
• Reinforce that the threat is ongoing
• Provide continued warning as hazards move across the county

A copy of the county's policy for outdoor warning sirens can be found on our website at the following location: 

https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/ema/sirens

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