Eastern Nebraska Tornado Siren Malfunction Probed

Lancaster County officials are trying to determine why two tornado sirens mistakenly went off on a quiet night.

The county’s Emergency Manager Doug Ahlberg told the Lincoln Journal Star he doesn’t know why the sirens in Raymond and Bennet went off on Aug. 24.

Ahlberg says the sirens that had problems are newer battery-powered models that were installed six months ago.

Workers had to manually shut off the sirens because they wouldn’t respond to a shut-off signal. The receivers on both sirens have been replaced since the incident.

Ahlberg says the only other time he can remember a signal misfiring is when one near Branched Oak Lake was struck by lightning last year.

Ahlberg says this incident reminds of the importance of monthly siren tests.