Linn County, Johnson County won’t activate sirens for statewide tornado drill Wednesday

Mar. 22, 2022 2:30 pm, Updated: Mar. 23, 2022 9:58 am

A storm siren stands at the intersection of A Avenue and First Street NW in downtown Cedar Rapids. (Gazette file photo)

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa, and that includes a statewide tornado drill at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Linn County Emergency Management said in a news release that schools, businesses and individuals are strongly encouraged to participate in the drill, but the county won’t activate its outdoor warning sirens.

The county wants to avoid confusing the public by activating the sirens outside the normal monthly tests, according to Emergency Management Coordinator Steve O’Konek.

Linn County sirens normally are tested on the first Wednesday of the month at 8:45 a.m. They are only activated at that time or when there is extreme weather, such as a tornado, a funnel cloud, winds with speeds higher than 70 mph or hail larger than 1.75 inches.

O’Konek said the Linn County sirens are 100 percent operational.

Due to Wednesday’s weather, Johnson County sirens also will not be sounding as part of the statewide tornado drill. On Twitter Wednesday morning, the City of Iowa City stated, “sirens may be sounded on Thursday depending on weather conditions.”

Johnson County normally tests its sirens on the first Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m.

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