Farmington Missouri Emergency Management

05/21/2026

🇺🇸 As we head into Memorial Day weekend, many families will be outdoors, camping, traveling, or away from home. This time of year brings an increased risk of severe weather and tornadoes, so now is a good time to review your safety plans before the holiday weekend begins.

🌪️ Tornado Safety Reminders:
• Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, especially overnight or while camping.
• Know where your nearest sturdy shelter is located before storms develop.
• If a tornado warning is issued, move immediately to a basement, storm shelter, or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
• Avoid seeking shelter in tents, campers, or vehicles during severe storms.
• Keep a flashlight, portable charger, and emergency supplies nearby when traveling or spending time outdoors.

Memorial Day weekend is a time to gather with family and friends — let’s all stay weather aware and prepared to keep everyone safe.

📲More information about outdoor warning sirens and severe weather safety is available here:https://irp.cdn-website.com/5429d181/files/uploaded/Sirens.pdf

05/11/2026

📢It's Monday, and that means our warning sirens will be tested at noon today, unless there is potential for severe weather.

❓Did you know, the City of Farmington, along with St Francois County, have outdoor warning sirens that are activated by the St. Francois County 911 Center? The sirens are activated by a system called Rapid Warn, which monitors for warning polygons and uses the latitude / longitude of the polygon to know where to sound the sirens. The system has been in place since 2022 in St. Francois County.

📲For more information on how sirens are activated, visit https://www.farmington-mo.gov/emergency-management

04/28/2026

04/27/2026

A Tornado Watch has been issued until 9PM. Be prepared to take action if a warning is issued for your area.

04/27/2026

UPDATE: The Farmington School District anticipates opening the FEMA shelter at Truman Learning Center earlier than initially planned. We will post updates as more information is available.

Due to a rapidly developing severe weather system, the Farmington School District will dismiss early today at 12:30 PM. Please see the announcement below for more information.

04/27/2026

With severe weather in the forecast, the Truman Learning Center (TLC) Safe Room at (209 West College Street) will be available as a shelter option for our community after 3:30 pm today. Please read the information below and if you have questions regarding shelter access, please contact the FSD Administrative Office at (573) 701-1300.

Please stay weather-aware and safe!

04/27/2026

UPDATE: The Farmington School District anticipates opening the FEMA shelter at Truman Learning Center earlier than initially planned. We will post updates as more information is available.

A risk of severe weather is in the forecast for the Farmington area on Monday, April 27, 2026. Periods of thunderstorms are expected through the day into this evening. Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening will be capable of large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes.

To learn more about shelter locations, emergency preparedness, and to sign up for emergency alerts, please follow the link.

Farmington, Missouri (April 27, 2026) – A risk of severe weather is in the forecast for the Farmington area on Monday, April 27, 2026. Periods of thunderstorms are expected through the day into this evening. Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening will be capable of large hail, damaging wind gust...

04/27/2026

Are you prepared for severe weather?🌪⚡️⛈

🚨Make sure you have multiple means of getting weather information, including Smart 911.

📲Sign up today at https://www.farmington-mo.gov/smart911

04/27/2026

🚨HOW DO OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS WORK?🚨

🌪Since 2022 Farmington’s outdoor warning sirens have been activated by a system called Rapid Warn. The system, which is in place at St. Francois County 911, monitors National Weather Service (NWS) warning polygons and uses the latitude / longitude of the polygon to know where to sound the sirens.

🌪Just because a warning is issued for the county doesn't mean Farmington is in the path of a tornado. When you see the red, storm-based warning polygons on NWS radar, the highlighted area shows where the Weather Service has a radar-indicated or spotter-confirmed tornado. That is the area where sirens are activated, not the entire county.

🌪Part of the reason sirens are no longer activated for the entire county is to prevent Siren Fatigue. This is the tendency for people in high-risk tornado areas to downplay the significance of and fail to take appropriate safety precautions when a tornado siren is activated due to the high volume of tornado false alarms that have been previously sounded.

🌪Prior to Rapid Warn, when a tornado warning was issued a dispatcher would set off the sirens for the entire county. This is not a best practice and is not backed by the National Weather Service. Since 2022, Rapid Warn ensures people who are not in a warned area are not hearing sirens and taking shelter unnecessarily, eliminating siren fatigue.

🌪It is also important to understand that outdoor warning sirens are intended to warn you of danger when you are outside. They are not designed or intended to warn you in your home. You are less likely to hear the outdoor warning sirens inside your home depending on your distance from a siren, how insulated your home is, background noise, and other factors.

📲Farmington residents are encouraged to have multiple means of getting weather information and warnings including:
• Smart 911
• Weather Radios
• News Apps

🤳Residents can sign up for Smart 911 at https://www.farmington-mo.gov/smart911, and most local news stations offer free apps where you can view live radar and receive alerts. Visit the App Store or Google Play store to explore your options.