The sirens cannot be made louder in an effort to penetrate buildings since such an increase may pose a danger to the hearing of people who are outdoors. Click here for a map showing the projected coverage areas of the Outdoor Warning Siren system. Sirens may carry farther though less reliably. Outdoor Warning Sirens are actually only part of the public warning system. Radio and TV provide the least costly, and most wide-spread, way to receive warning and information.
Local media are very good at quickly spreading the word in an emergency.
Programs on City Cable Channel 12 can also be interrupted from City Hall to issue warning information using an override system . Dane County operates a personal warning pager system. There are also private companies that provide warning systems for those with special needs. Contact us for more information. Warnings are sent from City Hall to special radios.