If you hear a siren blaring in Milton on Monday or Tuesday, don't panic. The city is running routine tests on all 11 of its outdoor weather warning sirens on Monday, July 20, and Tuesday, July 21.

City workers and Meer Electric began checking each unit Monday, verifying that every siren functions properly and making repairs where needed, according to an Appen Media report. Each test blast lasts about 15 seconds.

That's the key difference residents should note: a 15-second burst means a test. In an actual weather emergency, the sirens sound for three-minute increments, signaling imminent severe weather such as a tornado.

The city described the sirens as an "old-school" but effective tool to reach anyone within earshot. The 11 units are spread across Milton. Cellphone-based weather alerts offer another layer of notification, but the sirens remain the city's primary outdoor warning system for people who may not have a phone nearby.

What to do in a real emergency

If the sirens sound for three continuous minutes outside of the announced testing window, residents should immediately take cover indoors and prepare for approaching severe weather. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.

The city did not specify what hours of the day testing would occur on either July 20 or July 21.