There are several locations in the City of Saint Louis where the outdoor tornado warning sirens never sounded Friday.
Starting Monday, City Emergency Management Commissioner Sarah Russell says assessment teams will be checking outdoor warning sirens that never sounded. But Russell says people should not rely on the sirens.
"We're making sure that we're trying to have everybody have redundant ways - this is one of the reasons we stress this so much - something can happen in any of these systems. We've seen cellular outages take out cell systems. That would impact some of the other systems we use."
Russell says it's important that everyone have more than one form of notification, not only for weather, but other emergencies. The commissioner understands people do not like to download apps, "Or have their alerts on to receive like Amber alerts overnight or even at all. So, I want to encourage people to make sure that you check your phones. Make sure that you haven't opted out of the wireless emergency alerts."
The commissioner admits not everyone has internet service and particularly now, people's cell phones are dead with no way to charge them because the power is out.
"We also need help from the public. If you know someone who is staying at their home that doesn't have a capability please reach out to them."
Russell says there are 11 or 12 sirens that need to be assessed and it's possible they may need parts that have to be ordered. So, there is no time frame on when the assessment will be completed.
Russell knows of some anomalies with the siren at the fire station on DeBaliviere.
The commissioner checked it personally and saw a tree between the firehouse and the Metro lot that was snapped over and it's believed that tree hit the siren and caused a malfunction.
