Outdoor Warning System

The City of Decatur’s outdoor warning system is designed to alert citizens, who are outside, to an eminent threat against life and property in the community. The warning system consists of nine sirens placed throughout the City of Decatur and is not designed for indoor alerting. When the sirens are sounded, citizens should seek shelter immediately and seek further information via television, radio, or other means. Sirens are the most effective method to warn the population at large in the shortest amount of time that a warning has been activated. The sirens are an "all-hazard" warning system, which means that they can be activated to warn citizens of a variety of threats such as extreme high winds, large hail, hazardous material release or any life threatening emergency.The City of Decatur highly recommends each home and business have other means to receive severe weather warnings and notifications, including internet, radio, television or a NOAA weather radio.

Please do not attempt to contact the fire or police departments to inquire why the sirens are sounding. Call 9-1-1 only to report a life threatening situation. 

The first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. (weather permitting), the Decatur Fire Department and Emergency Management Coordinator conduct audible testing of the warning system.