(COLUMBUS, OHIO) – Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (FCEM&HS) would like to remind residents that the Franklin County Outdoor Warning Siren System is activated by zones when a Tornado Warning is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). This routine reminder would have normally been issued during the Annual Statewide Tornado Drill, however, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The zone policy divides the county into four warning zones (NW, NE, SW and SE) based upon the county-wide street grid (Broad/High). These four zones will allow the existing system the flexibility to more closely align siren activations with warning polygons issued by NWS or the actual location of tornadic activity in Franklin County. FCEM&HS previously activated the sirens county-wide when NWS issued a Tornado Warning for any portion of Franklin County.
FCEM&HS will conduct the weekly outdoor warning siren test tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at noon unless severe weather is in the forecast.