Iowa has a patchwork of outdoor emergency siren systems that are typically not used for flash flood warnings, local and state officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: The recent floods that killed over 130 people in Central Texas have heightened concerns across the U.S. that many communities lack reliable warning systems.
State of play: Iowa has struggled with outdated warning systems for years, some dating back to the Cold War era, when they would have been used to warn of a nuclear attack, a 2012 Des Moines Register investigation found.
- There are still no statewide criteria for their use, with guidelines for sounding sirens varying by local jurisdiction, according to the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD).
Zoom in: In Polk County, nearly 165 sirens — some over 25 years old — cover most urban areas but those in rural regions remain sparse, according to data and maps obtained by Axios.
- They are only used for tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings with winds over 70 mph.
Context: Using outdoor sirens for other warnings, like flash floods, risks causing confusion because people might not distinguish the specific threat without additional context, Polk County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director A.J. Mumm tells Axios…