CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI (NewsFirst) — The Cape Girardeau Police Department and Emergency Management want to remind the public that the outdoor warning sirens are meant for people outdoors.

It’s a common misconception that tornado sirens are meant to be heard indoors. They’re known as outdoor warning sirens because they’re designed for just that — to warn only people who are OUTDOORS to get inside, take shelter and seek more information about the threat.

This is why it’s important to have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts, such as an NOAA weather radio, local TV, WEA alerts and mobile apps.

Here’s a helpful Sirens 101 video explaining how outdoor emergency warning systems work and some common misconceptions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_T33bhjJYc