What To Expect From Natrona County's Siren Test

If you've ever been sitting around outside enjoying the day and then, out of nowhere, you hear a loud, annoying, spooky-sounding alarm, what's going on? That is the outdoor warning siren. They alert you when you're in the path of a tornado, an extremely severe thunderstorm, or another form of imminent danger.

These sirens are placed throughout Casper, Mills, Evansville, Midwest, Edgerton, Bar Nunn, and other areas across Natrona County. Again, these are in place to warn you of danger. The hope is that you'll never have to hear them, or if you do, it will be only a test to ensure they're working properly.

This Friday, September 25, is one of those days when you will hear the alarms across the county blaring the warning signal. Not because of approaching danger, but to make sure they're working properly. That means that no matter where you are in Natrona County, a siren will be going off for a few hours.

According to Natrona County Emergency Management, on Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., they will test each siren individually. During the same period, at 9 a.m., NCEM will test the Konexus alert system for those who have signed up to receive emergency alerts. Natrona County can send you emergency alerts however you'd like to receive them, either through text message, email, pager, or voicemail (in extreme cases), based on your preferences.

If you haven't signed up for those alerts, it's simple to do so. This link takes you to the Natrona County sign-up page, where you can choose your mobile device, download the app, set your preferences, and you're set to go.

When I was a kid, we didn't have the option to get alerts directly on our phones, and if we had, it would have been a game-changer.

Remember, Friday is only a test, but it is a good idea to take the time to evaluate your emergency plan.