Emergency Warning Sirens Sound During Storm

(Farmington, MO) As severe weather pushed through the area Saturday evening, area residents in St. Francois County heard emergency warning sirens sound, even though there were not tornado warnings issued. 

Warning sirens sounded Park Hills, Farmington and Desloge while the severe weather threat was taking place. 

"Sirens were activated in Farmington and apparently all across St. Francois county and Ste. Genevieve County," said City of Farmington Emergency Manager Tim Porter.

Porter said that activation is automatic and is polygon based for tornadoes. "Our siren tones indicated winds in excess of 80 mph or hail > 2.75", rather than a tornado. We are not sure why they were activated in places where we think those conditions weren't present," he said. 

"This is relatively new technology for the county and was the first time we have had a true test of the activation for a destructive thunderstorm," said Porter.

Porter said that he will work with officials at St. Francois County 911 and the National Weather Service to determine what happened.