Imagine living in a town and not being able to hear a storm siren when severe weather hits. That's exactly what happened in the small town of Stockton, Minnesota – those sirens did not sound when storms came through the area.

The old siren in Stockton is silent, just like it was the last time a major storm rolled through. People living here aren't happy about that.

"We were standing out there and we never heard it,” says Stockton town clerk Beth Winchester. “There were a few of us that came from the trailer park. They didn't hear theirs blowing either."

Winchester says the city has ordered a new siren and has received some of the parts. She says the town set money aside more than a year ago for the new siren. But the city wasn't able to order the parts until recently because of Winona County regulations.

"We're not the ones that push the button. Winona County pushes the button. We have to pay as far as buying a new one, but we don't maintain it, we don't test it... nothing."

Some people in Stockton say the sirens have been malfunctioning since last year.

"Everybody in Stockton is scared right now and it's just not Stockton," says resident Bonnie Oldham.

"I think it's an important service,” adds Matthew Tiedeman, who lives in Stockton. “I think as a community people should be warned in time. At least that way if there is a problem they can get to shelter."

Todd Shea is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. He says town sirens are an important part of the storm warning system, but not the only part.

"The outdoor warning sirens serve their benefit from being able to alert people that are at parks and outdoor activities. That's really what they were designed for."

While the old siren is on the way out, Winchester says she isn't looking forward to the location of the new siren.

"The reason I am is it will finally be done and put to rest. But on the other side, it's going to be closer to my house so that means my windows will be rattling instead of the middle of town."