NORTH VERNON, Ind. - During the Wednesday, June 17, severe storms, the outdoor warning sirens in Jennings County failed to activate. Jennings County 911 engaged its radio/siren contractor to diagnose the problem. Preliminary investigation indicates an electrical issue caused the failure of two battery backups and the primary siren radio.
Without this radio, none of the county’s sirens received the activation signal. Technicians have installed a temporary radio, restoring basic functionality. However, siren performance may remain unreliable until the permanent repair is completed. Updates will be provided as repair work progresses.
Jennings County 911 reminds residents that tornado and outdoor warning sirens are not designed as the primary alert for severe weather. They are an outdoor warning system to alert people outside to seek shelter immediately and obtain more information. Sirens may not be heard indoors, and their activation should not be your primary source of warning.
Primary warning methods include:
- NOAA Weather Radio
- Wireless Emergency Alerts on your cell phone: https://www.weather.gov/crp/wea
- Local television and radio stations
- Jennings County Rave Alerts (our primary mass notification system)
Residents are encouraged to sign up for Rave Alerts for direct, location-specific emergency notifications.
If you have questions or concerns, contact Jennings County EMA or 911.

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