In fact, the danger officials wanted to warn them about wasn’t coming from the sky.
For the first time in Oregon’s history, toxins from a nearby algae bloom had made their way into a city’s tap water.
Today, Oregon for the first time has rules largely unheard of in the United States.
Wilhelm is interested in the circumstances that lead harmful blooms to overtake a body of water—and why that seems to be happening more and more.
"It’s a concern in many states—especially states that pull water from surface waters that are contaminated with these," says Dr. Tim Davis, who studies harmful algae blooms at Bolwing Green State University in Ohio.
Today, Rhode Island is considering new drinking water regulations for algae.
Wilhelm hopes the attention will lead to more awareness about the dangers of algae.
The lake feeds the Santiam River, from which the city pulls its drinking water.
"We noticed algae back in 2010 and said, ‘Hey we better start testing for it," says Peter Fernandez, Salem’s public works director.
Algae has persisted around Detroit Lake, but since the new system went live on July 4, Salem’s water has been free of algae toxins.