Residents in St. Louis can expect to hear the sound of sirens throughout the city today as part of an audible siren testing, confirms the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA). The tests are scheduled to commence at 12:00 p.m. (noon) and could last up to four hours, with sirens sounding every 30 minutes. The purpose behind the testing, as revealed by CEMA , is to research and fine-tune the installation of new outdoor warning sirens aimed to reach all within the city's bounds – both denizens and wayfarers.

As infrastructure ages and landscapes transition, the city recognizes the call for modernization. With 25 years passed since the last system installation, changes within the cityscape have become an influencing factor. Despite the testing being set for May 15, the routine practice usually echoes on the first Monday of each month, weather allowing. However, in an announcement concerning to the testing, residents are reminded by CEMA that sirens serve foremost as an outdoor alert, their cry meant to signal the need to seek immediate shelter.

St. Louis has earmarked $3.9 million for the siren system overhaul, revealing a move toward refining the city's emergency response capabilities. An updated system promises better coverage and is part of CEMA's ongoing efforts to enhance emergency notifications, as reported by the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) .

Residents keen on staying informed during hazardous situations have other means at their disposal as well. Chief among them is the NotifySTL system, which since its 2019 launch, provides a spectrum of alerts customized to individual needs and geographies. CEMA assures that details provided for NotifySTL subscriptions remain confidential and will see no misuse. For added safety, a battery-powered National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio is also recommended by the agency – a testament to the unpredictability of power during inclement weather's wrath.