The City of Storm Lake maintains an outdoor warning system for the residents and visitors of Storm Lake that includes seven outdoor sirens covering the community. The sirens are an outdoor warning device intended for warning of citizens and visitors who are outside; however, some citizens will be able to hear the warning sirens from inside their homes and businesses.
The outdoor warning system is sounded only when a Tornado Warning has been issued for the City of Storm Lake.
The City does test the sirens during National Sever Weather Week along with the Statewide drill and then every Saturday at noon from April to October. If sever weather should be threatening during a normal scheduled test of the tornado warning system the test is postponed until the next testing date.