05/19/2026
This evening, the Hale Fire Protection District made the decision to sound the City of Hale tornado siren due to dangerous weather conditions moving into the area. At the time the siren was activated, the National Weather Service had issued a Tornado Warning for our area, and weather spotters observed rotation within the storm.
In addition to the reported rotation, the storm was producing pea-size hail, heavy rainfall, and wind gusts approaching 60 mph. With multiple hazardous conditions occurring at once and the potential for rapid storm intensification, we believed it was necessary to alert the community immediately.
As both the Mayor of the City of Hale and Fire Chief of the Hale Fire Protection District, my responsibility also includes serving in an emergency management role for our community. That duty requires making decisions that prioritize the safety and protection of our residents, even when storms may not ultimately produce a tornado on the ground.
The purpose of the tornado siren is to warn people who are outdoors or may not have access to other forms of emergency notification that dangerous weather is occurring or imminent. While not every warning results in a confirmed tornado, we will always err on the side of caution when there is a credible threat to life and property.
We strongly encourage all residents to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, including weather radios, smartphone alerts, and local media monitoring, especially during severe weather season.
We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation as we work to keep our community safe.
Thanks Chief Wilson
