(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – Due to recent events and incoming inclement weather, Sedgwick County Emergency Management will NOT test the Outdoor Warning System on Monday, May 2, 2022. Neither the ALERT (steady tone used for tornado warning) nor ATTACK (classic rise and fall tone used for air attack warning in times of war) functions will be tested. Sedgwick County Emergency Management will notify the public when a date in the future has been chosen to test the ATTACK function of the Outdoor Warning System.

In the event of severe weather, Sedgwick County Emergency Management coordinates with the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Wichita. When the NWS issues a tornado warning, they draw an area on the map starting with where the storm is currently, and include the area downstream of the storm that may be affected. ONLY sirens that are located in, or can be heard within, the warned area will be activated.

If the outdoor warning system sounds tomorrow, Monday, May 2, 2022, citizens need to take the appropriate action and seek shelter. For shelter and sheltering in place tips, visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/emergency-management/warning-systems-and-shelters/#seekshelter

 To report a non-functioning outdoor warning device, please email sirens@sedgwick.gov.

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