Polk County operates an outdoor siren warning system designed to alert citizens to a impending tornado threat. The system is comprised of nine sirens strategically located throughout the County as well as the Cities of Aragon, Cedartown, and Rockmart. When activated, these sirens revolve 360-degrees so the sound can be projected in all directions. Polk County conducts a audible test of the siren system on the first Wednesday of the quarter at noon. If weather conditions are poor the test will occur on the first Friday of the quarter. Additionally, a silent test is conducted every Monday.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911, fire department or police agencies to ask why the sirens are sounding. If it is an emergency, they are busy getting equipment and manpower to the emergency scene.
A word of additional caution, the outdoor warning sirens are just that, outdoor warning alerting systems. These sirens are meant to be heard outside to signal you to go indoors and take shelter. In the event your hear the siren and there is a threat of severe weather take appropriate protective measures and tune your radio or televisions, or NOAA Weather Radio. As homes continue to become more energy efficient and sound proofing enhanced, outdoor warning sirens that decades ago could once be heard inside of a home can no longer be heard. That’s why other means of warning are in place such as CodeRED, NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts, EAS radio alerts and scroll lines are placed on commercial and cable television stations. For more information on how to stay safe during a tornado visit https://ema.polkga.org/tornado
Polk County will activate the outdoor warning sirens for the following reasons:
