JANESVILLE — As the potential for strong storms moves into Rock County Thursday afternoon, emergency management officials are alerting residents to when outdoor warning sirens will be activated.
According to Rock County Emergency Management, the outdoor warning sirens will now also be activated when the National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning and the storm could be destructive.
This change follows updates to the National Weather Service warning criteria and will help keep
the public safe.
According to the National Weather Service, the criteria for a destructive damage threat are at least 2.75-inch diameter (baseball-sized) hail and/or 80 mph thunderstorm winds.
Outdoor warning sirens are meant as an alert to go inside to a safe location and seek more information. If
you hear a siren, head to your shelter and check local news, social media, or your NOAA Weather Radio.
Residents are strongly encouraged to stay informed through the following measures:
- Monitor local weather reports via radio, television, or official online channels.
- Ensure that you have a reliable means of receiving weather alerts to stay up to date.
- Follow additional safety precautions, including moving to an interior room on the lowest
level of your home and avoiding windows.
As a reminder, when warnings and drills occur, the current warning siren system activates all sirens.
Please heed all warnings and take necessary actions to protect yourself and your loved ones.