St. Louis County to Test Siren System Monday

Residents need not panic Monday at 11 a.m. if they hear the severe weather sirens go off— this is a test, this is only a test.

The county recently overhauled its network of sirens, and all but two of 185 have been installed, said David Barney, executive director for the St. Louis County Emergency Communications Commission. The system costs $7.5 million and is controlled from two locations, one in  and the other in Chesterfield. 

The new system expands service to western and southern parts of the county that didn't previously have sirens, he said. Additionally, some of the county's older sirens dated back to the 1960s and featured a rotating mechanical horn that was prone to breakage. Commercial power supported the sirens in the past, meaning the siren would be rendered unusable if a big storm came through the county. 

The new sirens are composed of 10 speakers stacked one on top of the other; are solar-powered; and can be used to make a public address to a select part of the county when, for example, a boil water alert is issued.

An emergency communications sales tax that voters approved in 2009 funded the project, a county news release states. TBG served as the contractor.

“This is a program that could very well literally save lives,” County Executive Charlie Dooley stated in the release.

Most of the sirens that made up the old network will be taken down by the end of the year, Barney said. 

The new sirens could sound a little different, louder or quieter depending on your distance from the siren.

Check out the St. Louis County website for a list of sirens near you.