Second weather siren in the works
A second severe weather warning siren may become operational after city officials asked for it to be put in place.
Officials have been discussing an outdoor weather warning system for some time and have had one functioning siren for the past several years. This year, they budgeted about $60,000 for a new system but said last week there could be delays in purchasing a new system before tornado season begins.
Warren County Emergency Management Agency director Richard Myers said there is also the potential for grant funds in the future. In the meantime, officials said they wanted to make operational an old siren that has been located at the water department. The one that is already operational is located at the Civic Center.
There has been some debate about how best to warn the public about impending severe weather. Myers said he believes tornadoes and straight line winds from thunderstorms are equally treacherous, but city officials have operated with the idea of warning the public by sounding the siren for tornado warnings.
Safety Committee members said more discussion is expected to define the types of storms the siren alerts should be sounded for and discussed the possibility of warning the public about serious security alerts with a new system, if ever necessary. They did not set a timetable for making the second siren operational.