MOUNT VERNON — Residents around Knox County listened as outdoor warning sirens were tested on Tuesday evening. The testing was conducted by the Knox County Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club and the Knox County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, to learn of their function and sequence with other sirens in the area.

The sirens are routinely tested at noon every first and third Friday of the month by the county and Mount Vernon city dispatch.

“The difference between the test we’re doing now and the test we do regularly is that we actually have people out in the field who are anticipating this test, and who are out to see if the siren works or not,” said Matthew Sturgeon, EMA deputy director.

An MVARC member was present at each location to report on the function of the siren, except for the fire station locations, where fire personnel monitored the siren. Radio communication was used to notify the mobile command unit of any activity at each siren.