Well, here is the official word on what happened.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/5280 ... 25.article
City never got alert from weather service
August 25, 2007
BY SHAMUS TOOMEY Staff Reporter/
[email protected]
The City of Chicago on Friday defended its decision not to sound its warning sirens during Thursday's violent storms, saying meteorologists told officials the storm was diminishing as it approached Chicago's borders.
It flared up when it reached the city, however, causing widespread damage but minimal injuries.
"As soon as it entered the city, we had a burst -- too late to activate the system," said Tony Ruiz, head of the city's 911 center and the one who made the call on the sirens.
RELATED STORIES
? Dry out, power up
The decision to keep them quiet was made, in part, after the city was told the National Weather Service's tornado warning didn't extend into Chicago.
But city officials said the city never received a subsequent "severe weather statement" that named specific Chicago neighborhoods as being at risk. The National Weather Service said Friday it is looking into why the city didn't get the alert, which the city was to receive electronically.
"That's something that will have to be looked at," said Edward Fenelon of the National Weather Service's local office.
Mayor Daley agreed with Ruiz's call and warned of using the sirens prematurely and scaring people.
"We would be activating it every week," Daley said. "We have storms all of the time. ... You have to make sure that it's coming in strong."
Ruiz added: "I'm sure if I did activate it, I would have been criticized."