Dakota County Using Sirens Less Due To 'Fatigue'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Dakota County officials said they would change the conditions that lead them to activate the emergency sirens to combat siren "fatigue."

The county used to activate the sirens during any tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings. Because of that, the county sirens sounded off nearly 100 times in the span of five years.

Now, the county will focus on sustained wind speeds before activating the sirens. Only when expected wind speeds of 70 miles per hour are expected will sirens be used.

The county said that local police and fire departments would also be able to make calls to activate the sirens if, for instance, they see a funnel cloud but no tornado warning has been issued by the National Weather Service.

Dakota County