Backup Test of Dane County Outdoor Warning Sirens Will Proceed

August 08, 2025
Andrew Beckett
Emergency Management

DANE COUNTY – Dane County Emergency Management will proceed with plans to conduct a second monthly test of the county’s outdoor warning siren network on Friday, August 8 at noon. This backup test was scheduled after the Wednesday, August 6 test was unable to proceed due to a technical issue.

Dane County Emergency Management, which oversees the network of 144 outdoor warning sirens, has been working with its vendor since Wednesday to review data from Wednesday’s attempted test. While an official cause remains under review, county staff are confident the system is working as intended.

Outdoor warning sirens are designed to notify those who are outside about approaching severe weather threats. When they are activated, it’s a signal to head indoors and seek additional information. The county tests the system year-round at noon on the first Wednesday of each month.

You can learn more about the outdoor warning siren system at https://em.countyofdane.com/notification-system/sirens.