Kip Kendrick, Presiding Commissioner

Justin Aldred, District I Commissioner

Janet Thompson, District II Commissioner

Roger B. Wilson

Boone County Government Center

801 E. Walnut St., Rm 333

Columbia, MO 65201-7732

(573) 886-4305 (573) 886-4311

Boone County Commission News Release

Boone County Emergency Warning Sirens Activated Using Incorrect Setting During Test

COLUMBIA, Mo. (November 4, 2026) - The Boone County Office of Emergency Management would like to inform residents that outdoor warning sirens were activated using an incorrect setting during the scheduled monthly siren test on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The sirens were activated as part of routine testing; however, the incorrect setting was used during the test, resulting in a different siren sound than is normally used. There is no active threat to the public.

"We recognize that hearing an unexpected siren sound can cause confusion, and we apologize for any concern this may have created," said Chris Kelley, Director of Boone County Emergency Management. "Our outdoor warning sirens are an important public safety tool, and we take their proper operation seriously. We are reviewing our testing procedures to help prevent this from happening again."

Residents are reminded that outdoor warning sirens are intended to alert individuals who are outdoors of an immediate threat, such as a tornado warning. Sirens should not be relied upon as the sole source of emergency information. Residents are encouraged to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, including NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and local weather sources.

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