Starting Thursday, a new policy will take effect for the activation of the outdoor warning sirens in Webster County.

According to a release from Webster County Emergency Management Coordinator Dylan Hagen, the Webster County Emergency Management Commission has approved adding hail and wind as activation triggers for the sirens.

Sirens will be activated in Webster County for the following conditions:

• Tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service.

• Tornado or funnel cloud reported by a trained spotter.

• Severe thunderstorm with “golf ball-sized” hail or larger.

• Severe thunderstorm with winds over 70 miles per hour.

Only the sirens within the warning area will be activated.

The change will also affect the tones sounded by the sirens. The Saturday noon test will have a one-minute “wail” tone, while an actual warning activation will have a three-minute “steady” alert tone.

Hagen also stresses that the sirens are meant for outdoor warnings and people indoors may not be able to hear them. There is also no “all clear” siren activation.

Any questions about the change of policy should be directed to ema@webstercountyia.org.