Champaign Voices

National Weather Service Upgrades Alarms; Phones Become Tornado Sirens With Ads

Published: August 21, 2026

More aggressive mobile alerts rolled out for extreme weather, saving lives and interrupting dinners with equal efficiency. What do you think?

“Alert me. Then stop selling me boots in the same minute.”
Carol Evilsizor, Basement Battery Organizer
“I want sirens, not sponsorships.”
Troy Pence, Scanner App Addict
“Forward the alert. Skip the theories.”
April Ferryman, Family Group Chat Disaster Admin