St. Louis Leaders Outline Severe Weather Preparations

City officials to share updates on tornado siren system and emergency response plans ahead of storm season.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

St. Louis city leaders, including Mayor Cara Spencer and Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, will hold a news conference on Thursday to provide details on how the city is preparing for severe weather conditions expected in the region this week. The update comes nearly a year after a deadly tornado exposed issues with the city's emergency response, including a failure to activate tornado sirens. Since then, the city has shifted control of the siren system to the fire department and has been working to repair and modernize the system.

Why it matters

Last year's tornado highlighted vulnerabilities in St. Louis's emergency preparedness, leading to changes in how the city manages its tornado warning system. This news conference will provide an opportunity for city leaders to demonstrate their progress in strengthening the city's severe weather response capabilities and reassure residents that the city is better prepared to protect public safety.

The details

Of the 60 tornado sirens across the city, 17 have been replaced so far, with a few remaining down and temporary units filling the gaps. The fire department has also implemented an automated system that links the sirens directly to the National Weather Service, eliminating the need for manual activation. Former CEMA Commissioner Sarah Russell was replaced following an investigation into last year's failure to sound the sirens, and the new commissioner, Gregg Favre, says the agency is working on both immediate fixes and longer-term changes to improve the city's emergency preparedness.

  • The news conference is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • The updates come nearly a year after a deadly tornado struck the city in May 2025.

The players

Cara Spencer

The mayor of St. Louis, who will be participating in the news conference to provide updates on the city's severe weather preparations.

Dennis Jenkerson

The St. Louis Fire Chief, who will be sharing details on the city's modernized tornado siren system.

Gregg Favre

The new CEMA (City Emergency Management Agency) Commissioner, who is working to implement immediate fixes and longer-term changes to improve the city's emergency response capabilities.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Everything now is automatic. We do not push a button. The National Weather Service sets our system off. If it doesn't work, they can call — and we can activate it.”

— Dennis Jenkerson, St. Louis Fire Chief

“We know we can't eliminate all risk. Our job is to manage risk, not eliminate it completely. As we go through these first few months, we're cleaning up anything that is a quick fix and we're building something sustainable as we grow the agency and continue to reshape it.”

— Gregg Favre, CEMA Commissioner

What’s next

City leaders have said some broader improvements to the emergency response system could take up to two years to fully implement.

The takeaway

This news conference demonstrates St. Louis's commitment to learning from last year's tornado response failures and taking concrete steps to strengthen the city's severe weather preparedness. By modernizing the tornado siren system and improving coordination between emergency agencies, the city is working to better protect public safety and restore residents' confidence in the city's ability to respond to natural disasters.