Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports the City of Atlantic will begin weekly testing of outdoor warning sirens this Friday (March 23rd), at noon. Sirens serve to alert residents to take shelter indoors and seek more information. While the outdoor warning system can be an effective method of notifying those that are outdoors, to seek shelter indoors, it is only one part of a comprehensive emergency warning system.

To receive emergency information during severe weather or other hazardous event you should get a NOAA weather radio, sign up for local emergency notifications, and tune in to local media reports, from radio, television or social media.

Kennon says “We are going to discontinue an “all-clear” siren for Atlantic. So now, if you hear an outdoor siren, you will know that it is a warning. If a siren sounds multiple times, additional warnings have been issued or additional hazards have emerged.”

To report a faulty siren please call 254-1500 or email mkennon@casscoia.us. In your message please include location of the siren and a description of the issues you believe are occurring. A reminder also, next week (March 26-30) is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. The Statewide Tornado Drill will be held 10-a.m. Wednesday, March 28th.

To register for the Cass County Emergency Notification System, go to links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA). If you need assistance, please contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-243-1500.