There are several outdoor warning sirens within Dickinson County to alert the public of approaching tornadoes or potentially tornadic thunderstorms. There are several things you should be aware of concerning these sirens:

1. Like their name implies, the sirens are meant to be an OUTDOOR warning system. They are not meant to be heard inside homes and other buildings. To be alerted when indoors, you should purchase a NOAA All-Hazards (Weather) Radio.

2. The sirens are activated when a Tornado Warning has been issued for Dickinson County and/or when a tornado has been spotted by a trained spotter. The sirens are activated for only the areas expected to be affected by the storm.

3. When activated, the sirens will sound for approximately three minutes, then automatically shut off. Just because the sirens stop sounding does not mean that the severe weather threat has passed.

4. There is NOT an all-clear siren. If the sirens sound again that simply means that another storm is approaching and you should remain in your shelter.

5. The sirens in Dickinson County are tested each Wednesday at noon unless there are thunderstorms within 50 miles of Dickinson County or a Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Dickinson County.

If you hear a siren
If you hear an outdoor warning siren you should immediately go to your place of shelter. DO NOT CALL 911! When possible, take a battery operated NOAA weather radio or an AM/FM radio with you to monitor conditions while in your shelter. Do not leave your shelter until you hear that the warning has expired or been cancelled or when you are sure that the severe weather threat has passed by.

Siren expansion
In the spring of 2007, the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of four new outdoor warning sirens from Federal Signal. These sirens will be installed near Camp Foster, Methodist Camp, Elinor Bedell State Park and in the area of the Harbor on West Lake Okoboji. This is the first part of a five-year plan by Emergency Management to install sirens in the developed areas of unincorporated Dickinson County. Future sirens have been planned for the north and east side of Big Spirit Lake, the Moore Lake/Twin Hills area and Horseshoe Bend.