The Town of Pleasant Hill has announced it will officially discontinue its outdoor warning siren system effective September 1, 2026.

Local officials cited several factors for the decommissioning, noting that the antiquated system often caused community confusion due to issues with inaudibility, high maintenance costs, and a total lack of detailed threat information.

The decision aligns Pleasant Hill with a growing national trend of communities moving away from manual sirens in favor of more precise, technologically advanced emergency alert systems. Furthermore, emergency officials emphasized a lesser-known safety fact: neither the National Weather Service nor FEMA recognizes outdoor sirens as a viable way to notify individuals who are inside a building or home.

With the sirens going silent, local officials are urging residents to be proactive about their safety and utilize a combination of digital, broadcast, and radio alternatives to stay informed during severe weather.

Recommended resources include:

• Cumberland County EMA App: A free mobile application providing localized alerts for severe weather, TDOT road conditions, and school closings.

• NOAA Weather Radios: Programmed specifically to the local ZIP code for instant emergency broadcasts.

• Local Radio & Television: Local AM stations (1330, 1490), FM stations, and major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and The Weather Channel) will continue to provide comprehensive storm coverage.

• WeatherCall.com: A subscription-based service that delivers direct notifications to landlines, cell phones, text messages, and emails.

“The more options used, the more likely you will be alerted to an impending emergency,” the town stated, encouraging families to adopt multiple notification methods ahead of the September deadline.