The Nashville Office of Emergency Management's (OEM) Outdoor Tornado Warning Siren System encountered issues during the extended severe weather on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Multiple siren sites activated as National Weather Service (NWS) issued multiple Tornado Warnings for Metro Nashville Davidson County. The continued tornado warnings and sounding of the sirens drained the batteries in the sirens.
Once the batteries drained the sirens stopped sounding. In areas where there were power outages the sirens did not start to recharge until electricity was restored. The power has been restored to those sites.
One siren, Siren Number 51 Parmer Park on Leake Avenue, had a communications failure. A repair team will need to visit the site to repair that siren. There is not an estimate of when that will happen.
Residents are reminded that the Outdoor Tornado Warning Siren System is just one method of receiving alerts about dangerous weather conditions in the area. The sirens are designed to be heard outdoors and are not intended to be audible inside homes or buildings.
It is crucial for individuals and families to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. OEM encourages the community to stay informed through various channels, including local news, weather apps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios.
As the OEM works to restore the siren system, community members are urged to remain vigilant and prepared for severe weather events.