Emergency Management Agency

To serve the citizens and visitors of Johnson County by planning, responding, mitigating and recovering from disasters, in order to save lives EMA Logo , property and the environment.

Hearing Impaired Citizens

Johnson County EMA is aware of hearing impaired citizens and if you would like to sign up for a text alert in case of severe storm warnings, please contact the EMA office either by e-mail at ssichting@co.johnson.in.us or call our office at 317-346-4655.

EOC Activation Level

NOT ACTIVATED

Activation Level Descriptions:
Level IV = Daily Operations & EOC Activated
Level III = ESF (Emergency Support Functions) Staffing
Level II = All ESF Staffing
Level I = Policy Group

Johnson County Warning Storm Siren Policy

Effective July 1, 2022

Approved by Johnson County EMA & Johnson County Fire Chief’s Association

1.0 Purpose

Johnson County has outdoor warning sirens throughout the county and they are only intended to warn people who are outdoors and not intended to warn residents inside their home.

2.0 Sounding the Sirens

Johnson County Public Safety Communication Center activates the sirens when the National Weather Service issues a Tornado Warning. They also can be activated when a trained weather spotter or public safety personnel sees a funnel cloud or tornado.

Johnson County warning sirens when activated will sound throughout the county even if the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for a specific area of the county.

Johnson County does not sound an all clear siren.

3.0 Testing of Sirens

Routine testing of the outdoor warning sirens will be conducted each Friday morning at 11:00 am.

Guidelines set forth by Johnson County Emergency Management Agency and the Johnson County Fire Chief’s Association state that the weekly siren test will not take place if there are thunderstorms are predicted in the area of are actually in the area or during freezing conditions.

If the sirens are not tested due to either of the above situations, the sirens will be tested on the next Friday.

4.0 Related Weather Information

The best way to receive watches, warnings, and emergency messages is through a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio. Johnson County Emergency Management recommends every household have a weather radio as a way to receive important information even if power and internet are out.

Remember, outdoor warning sirens are intended to notify people who are outdoors that there is a severe weather situation occurring, and they should seek shelter immediately. The outdoor warning sirens are not intended to warn people indoors.

Johnson County Emergency Management Agency also recommends that everyone has another way to receive weather alerts such as cell phone weather alerts.

5.0 Definitions

Weather Statements: The Johnson County Emergency Management Agency receives severe weather notifications from multiple sources. These sources include: National Weather Service, local television and cell phone weather alert apps.

Weather Watches: are issued by the National Weather Service. A Weather Watch is issued when the risk of a hazardous weather conditions has increased significantly; but, the more precise location and or time is still uncertain.

Weather Warnings: are issued by the National Weather Service. A Weather Warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A Weather Warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.