Sterling pauses tornado siren tests for repairs to aging equipment

Sterling paused tornado siren testing after city crews identified repairs needed in aging equipment, leaving residents to rely on other warning channels while the system is fixed and retested soon.

The April 10 update from the City of Sterling did not give a repair schedule, but it made one point clear: the sirens will not move back into routine testing until the needed work is completed. That matters because tornado sirens are one layer of the city’s emergency warning network, and a maintenance problem in that layer can affect how quickly people get alerted when severe weather develops.

Logan County says its warning system is broader than sirens alone. The county’s emergency management office uses CodeRED, emergency vehicle PA systems, radio and cable override, and sirens to reach the public. Its preparedness guide says sirens are mainly intended for people who are outdoors and may not have access to other warning systems, which is why the county treats them as one part of a larger alert process rather than the only line of defense.

Residents and businesses in Logan County can sign up for CodeRED alerts, which can be sent by cell phone, land line, text and email. FEMA also points to several ways emergency information can reach the public, including Wireless Emergency Alerts, the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio, sirens and digital billboards. With Sterling’s siren equipment now under repair, those backup systems take on even greater importance.

The county’s own guide says Logan County averages less than 1 tornado a year, but changing weather still creates conditions where rotation can form quickly. Recent National Weather Service event summaries for Logan County tornadoes on May 19, 2024, and for tornadoes in Logan and Washington counties on May 23, 2025, show why officials keep the alert system under close watch even in a county where tornadoes are relatively uncommon.

Sterling also maintains public tornado shelter information, including First English Lutheran Church at 701 Fairhurst St. and the Church of Latter Day Saints at 513 N 7th Ave. The Sterling Emergency Communications Center says its mission is to promote, preserve and protect public safety, and the siren repair update fits that mission: fix the aging equipment, keep the warning system reliable, and make sure residents still have clear ways to get alerted when the weather turns dangerous.