Why Some Tornado Sirens Still Aren’t Working in Northern Illinois

If you live in Winnebago County, you might remember the concern that spread last year when we learned several tornado sirens weren’t working in the area, and now the conversation has started again.

Tornado Siren Issues in Winnebago County

Spring may be the time of budding trees, tulips, and beautiful green grass, but it's also severe storms and tornado season, and that always makes me nervous.

Around this time last year, reports surfaced that several tornado sirens across Winnebago County were out of order, including Pecatonica, where I live. Obviously, this is a very concerning problem.

The Winnebago County Board approved funds to repair and upgrade tornado sirens throughout the county back in 2024, and many are now in working order again...but not all of them.

The Problem With Tornado Sirens

On Tuesday night when a tornado warning was issued in Winnebago and surrounding counties, many residents in Pecatonica, including me, noticed one big problem: no tornado sirens sounded.

The Pecatonica, IL: Unfiltered Facebook group was filled with questions like:

Is it just me or did the tornado siren not go off. I heard a faint one but nothing that sounded close to town.

Here's one important thing I think we all need to remember about tornado sirens: they are meant to warn people who are outdoors and cannot always be heard indoors.

Pecatonica Village President Collin Hardy posted an update on Tuesday night that said:

The county owns, operates, and maintains our tornado siren system. I’ve been told the repairs were done in two phases, and during Phase Two they replaced the batteries and chargers. After that was finished, they found additional issues with the village siren that wouldn’t have been discovered until Phase Two was complete.

I think the reality is this: the tornado siren technology is outdated and hasn't been properly maintained. Relying on it alone to alert your family to severe weather is not safe.

There’s still no official timeline for when all of the tornado sirens in Winnebago County will be fully fixed. So, make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your phone and purchase a weather radio for a reliable backup.

Stay safe out there!