Star Journal Report

The city of Rhinelander will begin testing the warning sirens within the city next Wednesday, April 3. This coincides with Wisconsin’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness month.

A statewide drill is scheduled for April 11.  The exercise will start with a “test” tornado watch at 1:45 p.m. and a “test” tornado warning from after that for Oneida County. There will be a second scenario at 6:45 p.m. on the same day. If severe weather is present on that date, the exercise will be postponed. If threatening weather is present on April 11, the exercise will be cancelled.

The city’s sirens are located on the Oneida County Human Society property on North Stevens Street, at the intersection of Shepard Street and Lincoln Street and in the 1300 block of West Phillip Street. An addition siren is located on the Nicolet College campus that provides protection to the college, and also has enhanced coverage on the east side of the city.

These tests will be conducted at approximately 9 a.m. every Wednesday, through the end of October.  The Oneida County Dispatch Center activates the sirens in the event of a tornado warning, any natural disaster or terrorist-type activity.

WJFW-TV will also have the ability to set off the sirens in the event meteorologists are tracking severe weather that will impact the city of Rhinelander.