City Of Apple Valley: Outdoor Warning Siren System Activation

Press release from the City of Apple Valley:

September 21, 2021

The Dakota Communications Center (DCC) manages the outdoor warning siren systems for the cities within Dakota County.

In the early morning of September 17, areas of Dakota County experienced storm damage caused by strong winds. At the time of the event, the National Weather Service (NWS) had in effect a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for portions of the Twin Cities metro area, including parts of Dakota County. According to the NWS, the forecasted storm hazard was for 60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

Apple Valley and surrounding cities in Dakota County own and maintain an outdoor warning siren system, which is managed by the central public safety dispatch service provider, the Dakota Communications Center (DCC).

The outdoor warning sirens are set off by the DCC when there is a tornado warning or severe storm warning with sustained winds of 70 mph or greater as provided by the NWS or when requested by first responders. Since the storm of September 17 did not meet any of these criteria, the outdoor warning siren system was not activated by the DCC. 

It is important to remember the outdoor warning sirens are intended to alert people outside of their homes and are not designed to be audible in indoor locations. Weather information may always be obtained directly from the National Weather Service by means of a weather alert radio. The National Weather Service or television and radio broadcasts will provide information specific to the type of emergency and appropriate safety actions to be taken.

For more information about the warning sirens in Dakota County, please visit Dakota County’s website. 

Dakota County Warning Sirens Webpage

This press release was produced by the City of Apple Valley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.