City of Quincy Weather Warning Siren System is an outdoor severe weather warning system designed to notify people outdoors within the city limits of a tornado warning with a severe storm cell tracking towards Quincy or in Quincy. The system is not designed to notify people throughout the rest of Adams County.

It is not designed or intended to be a warning system for people indoors. Information regarding the storm's progression will be given to the public via local radio and television stations.

Quincy Fire Department is the city department responsible for the equipment and operation of the Weather Warning Siren System.

Quincy/Adams County 9-1-1 Center is responsible for activating the system upon direction or for monthly or other periodic testing.

Siren activates for 3 minutes with an alternating pitch wail. There is no signal for all clear; each activation indicates a severe weather warning.

Criteria for Activation. The 9-1-1 Center will activate the warning sirens when officially notified by telephone or by portable or mobile radio by a person authorized to initiate the activation of the sirens. The criteria used by the authorized personnel shall include the following:

(a) A national weather service tornado warning with a severe storm cell tracking towards Quincy or in Quincy.

(b) Selected personnel from television channels KHQA or WGEM confirm by Doppler radar a tornado tracking towards Quincy.

(c) Visual sighting by Quincy Police or Fire personnel, Adams County Sheriff or Illinois State Police personnel or Quincy Ambulance personnel of a cloud rotation, funnel(s) aloft or a tornado on the ground.

(d) A confirmed sighting, by a trained weather spotter, of severe winds causing structural damage within five (5) miles of the community.

Testing: The Weather Warning Siren System shall be tested on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in accordance with the state of Illinois requirements. The 9-1-1 Center and Quincy Fire Department personnel conduct this test. The siren system may be tested at other times, when necessary, when directed. Monthly testing will not be conducted in case of possible severe weather.

Siren Locations:

(a) Vermont between N 10th St and N 11th St

(b) N 23rd St and Chestnut St

(c) S 33rd St and Harrison St

(d) N 46th St and Broadway St

(e) N 8th St and Kochs Lane

(f) S 8th St between Monroe St and Adams St

(g) 27th and Spruce - Titan Wheel