How many outdoor warning sirens does Lexington have? And where are they?
Lexington’s outdoor warning sirens were put to the test early Thursday when the county was under a tornado warning threat from a severe storm.
Lexington Emergency Management is in charge of Fayette County’s outdoor sirens, which provide alerts during emergencies such as severe weather and hazardous chemical spills.
There are 31 outdoor sirens in parks throughout Fayette County, and each siren is equipped with three different tones depending on the emergency.
A map of the outdoor siren’s locations can be found on the emergency management website. The sirens were placed in parks so they could be heard in areas that might have large gatherings.
The first tone, called a Westminster chime, is used for tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings. It’s also used for monthly tests that happen on the first Wednesday of every month.
The second tone, called a steady tone, is used for tornado warnings. It sounds like a consistent siren without any variation in pitch.
The third tone, called a wail tone, is used for evacuation orders, shelter-in-place orders and all clear signals. The tone is similar to the steady tone but does have variation in pitch.
A public service announcement will sometimes follow the tones, providing instructions to people on how to handle an emergency.
The outdoor sirens are very loud and can be heard about a half-mile away outdoors, depending on weather conditions. Outdoor sirens are not intended to warn people indoors, as a tone loud enough to be heard indoors would be dangerously loud for nearby outdoor listeners.
A siren’s public address system can be heard about a quarter-mile away.
People who hear an outdoor siren should seek shelter immediately. Once indoors, people are encouraged to read or watch local news reports or listen to a NOAA all-hazards weather radio to stay up to date on the emergency.
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM.
