Major Tornado Alert System Malfunction in Northern Illinois

As Northern Illinois braces for several days with the possibility of severe weather, I was pretty disturbed to find out that a vital resource for keeping families safe is not currently working in Winnebago County.

Severe Weather in Northern Illinois

If you have plans this coming weekend that involve being outdoors, you might want to figure out a Plan B now. Here's why:

While the chance that my daughter's softball tournament this weekend might be rained out doesn't worry me, being without vital tornado sirens in Winnebago County certainly does!

Tornado Sirens Not Working in Winnebago County

Full disclosure, I get real nervous about tornado threats due to a traumatic, too-close-for-comfort tornado experience I had as a child in Wisconsin, so seeing posts like this in one of my community's Facebook groups really unnerved me:

I talked to the Winnebago County sheriffs department today about why our tornado sirens are not being tested or going off. I was told that they are not working out in this area and he suggested that everybody have their weather alerts on their phones. The county has allocated $200,000 to have a third of those that are not working repaired, but that third does not include Pecatonica at this time. So I guess you should check your settings to make sure your weather alert notifications are on.

Yes, most cell phones automatically alert us when there is a tornado warning in our immediate area, but I've always relied on the sirens as my you-really-need-to-get-in-the-basement-now backup. Am I the only one that thinks the "a third of those that are not working repaired" part of the above post is highly concerning?

Emergency Siren Repairs in Winnebago County

After seeing many concerned comments on the above post in the Pecatonica, IL: Unfiltered Facebook group, Winnebago County Board Representative Aaron Booker provided clarification saying:

A year ago the County Board approved $177,000 to check, maintain, and upgrade all Tornado sirens in Winnebago County.

All sirens will be checked and upgraded. The Comm company has just completed phase 1 and are now in phase 2. A month ago I saw those company crews working on the siren on Hoisington Rd.

Phase 3 of the repairs will be the software.

From the County 911 center, the supervisor can see which sirens are sounding and which ones are inoperable.