Sirens fail in two cities
SIOUX FALLS, SD — Two South Dakota cities have recently dealt with trouble in their outdoor weather warning systems, leaving some sirens out of service while repairs move forward. In Aberdeen, city leaders said the tornado siren system was not operating as intended, and in Viborg, officials reported problems on the west side of town.
The issues surfaced during a stretch when reliable alerts matter most, and both cities have turned to temporary fixes while they wait on parts or new equipment. Aberdeen officials said the problem was broader than first thought, while Viborg said the east side of town still had working sirens.
Aberdeen finds larger problem
Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman said the failure came to light after technicians reviewed the system and later confirmed a malfunction ahead of severe weather concerns in early June. Police Chief Tanner Jondahl said he had not seen a complete system failure there before.
What first looked like a failed component turned out to require a software and computer upgrade. City officials said three of Aberdeen’s 18 siren locations are not working, with four more needing attention and two requiring extra attention from the city.
Viborg orders repairs
Viborg posted that its siren warning system on the west side of town was having problems and that replacement parts had been ordered. The city expected the system to be fully operating again within a couple of days.
Mayor John Edelman could not immediately be reached for comment. The city said the east side sirens remained functional while repairs were pending.
Why sirens matter here
South Dakota’s place in Tornado Alley makes warning systems especially important, with the state averaging 28 tornadoes a year. NOAA data show 1,938 tornadoes in South Dakota from 1950 through 2025, along with about $259.2 million in property damage, 488 direct injuries and 19 deaths.
Outdoor sirens are generally set and activated by local officials, not by a statewide standard, though all sirens are tested during South Dakota Severe Weather Awareness Week in April. Cities such as Sioux Falls and Aberdeen also keep their own testing schedules during the season.
Temporary fix and next steps
Aberdeen Fire Department crews tested the backup activation system successfully on June 9. For now, someone must go to another building and manually trigger the signal, instead of dispatchers controlling it remotely from the police department.
The city has ordered new equipment expected to cost about $14,000, but a delivery date has not been set. Officials say the temporary process should cover the immediate need, while residents are urged to use several alert sources, including weather apps, NOAA Weather Radio, local media and Wireless Emergency Alerts.
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