ST. LOUIS — As numerous tornado sirens blared throughout the St. Louis area, some were left frustrated and confused that they weren't alerted about the storm's danger on their phones.
"I did not receive any of the warnings issued by NWS or the St. Louis County Office of Emergency Management," said 5 On Your Side viewer Gary Laburay in Bridgeton, Missouri. "We have survived two tornadoes here in Bridgeton because Channel 5 was who alerted us."
Laburay wasn't alone. Numerous people on social media said they didn't receive alerts even as sirens sounded.
The lack of alerts is mainly caused by the location of the phone and the severity of the storm, according to meteorologists.
Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) messages are sent by numerous authorized government authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service.
Weather forecasters use polygon maps, or maps with multi-sided shapes showing what areas are most under threat, to warn the public of upcoming severe weather.
WEA messages are only sent to phones inside those warning polygons. Counties, on the other hand, will sound their sirens if any part of the country is at risk.
Additionally, only certain weather alerts trigger WEA messages. Tornado warnings will always sound, but severe thunderstorm warnings will only sound when the damage threat is "destructive," NWS said.
"Warnings for Tsunamis (see Fact Sheet), Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm (only when the damage threat is destructive), Flash Flood (only when the damage threat is considerable or catastrophic), Hurricane, Typhoon, Storm Surge, Extreme Wind, Dust Storm and Snow Squall," according to the NWS website.
Top St. Louis headlines
Get the latest news and details throughout the St. Louis area from 5 On Your Side broadcasts here.
