Siren Test Set For Wednesday In Uptown Sedona:

Community News | By Nick Falsetto

The Sedona Police Department will conduct a live test of portable emergency sirens on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, between 1 and 3 p.m. The test is part of a pilot program to launch a new Emergency Siren System in Uptown. Crews will rotate through three sites to measure sound coverage and clarity, including the future Uptown Parking Garage area, the water tank in residential Uptown off Thompson Trail, and the city building at 221 Brewer Road.

During the test window, residents and businesses can expect both the siren tone and an accompanying voice message at each location. Engineers and emergency managers will use the field data to evaluate the sound radius, speech intelligibility, and general suitability of each site. City officials emphasize that this is only a test and that normal public safety services will continue uninterrupted.

The siren project builds on Sedona’s 2023 Evacuation and Re-Entry Plan, an all-hazards life and safety framework created to guide residents through wildfire, flood, and other emergencies. To strengthen real-time communication, Coconino County Emergency Management secured a federal grant to pilot an outdoor warning system in Uptown. If the trial proves effective, the system could expand to additional neighborhoods to improve citywide alerting.

“Testing these sirens is a crucial part of implementing this system that will keep our community safe. They will greatly increase our communication methods in case of an emergency, because they are designed to provide immediate warning in the event of a threat. We appreciate your understanding as we carry out these important safety checks for this new pilot program,” said Chief of Police Stephanie Foley.

Officials caution that final siren locations may change after the test results are analyzed. Factors include terrain, ambient noise, line of sight, and neighborhood feedback. The city will share next steps once staff complete their review.

Residents can learn more about evacuation and re-entry procedures at www.sedonaaz.gov/evacuation

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