An outdoor warning siren in Clermont County went off during the week of July 14 without an actual emergency. No tornado warning had been issued. No funnel cloud had been spotted. No chemical spill required shelter-in-place.

Clermont County confirmed the false activation in a public notice issued Friday, July 17. The county did not say which siren malfunctioned, where it is located, or what time it sounded.

The county said it contacted its vendor to identify the problem and that more information would be released as it becomes available. No cause has been disclosed, and the vendor has not been publicly named.

Parts of Loveland and Milford fall within Clermont County, and the county's siren network covers communities across the area. Because the county has not identified the specific siren involved, residents throughout the coverage area should be aware of the malfunction.

When sirens are supposed to sound

According to the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency, outdoor warning sirens activate under three conditions: a Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service, a confirmed funnel cloud sighting by a public safety official or trained weather spotter, or a chemical emergency requiring shelter-in-place.

The sirens are meant to alert people who are outdoors. They are not designed to be heard inside homes. The EMA recommends residents keep a NOAA All-Hazards Radio, which activates automatically during severe weather or hazardous materials events.

How to report a siren issue

Residents who notice a siren problem can call the Clermont County EMA at 513-732-7661 or submit a report online at https://arcg.is/0CWnLX.

The outdoor warning sirens across Clermont County are owned, maintained, and repaired by local cities, townships, and villages. Questions about a specific siren's condition should be directed to the local fire department where that siren is located.

Next scheduled test

Clermont County tests its outdoor warning sirens on the first Wednesday of every month at noon. The next scheduled test is Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at noon. If severe weather is forecast that day, the test is postponed to avoid confusion.

Any siren activation outside the scheduled monthly test should be treated as a real warning until confirmed otherwise by local emergency officials.