Siren to sound for severe weather
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Warren County’s 911 director Chuck Haston said the city has requested the 911 center sound the alarm for both types of severe weather warning situations. That is a change from the past, when the siren was sounded for tornado warnings only. The policy was recommended by the city’s Safety Committee Monday.
Haston said as he understands the city’s recommendation, the warning siren, which is located at the Civic Center, will only be sounded when tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings are issued for the city of McMinnville.
The protocol also allows for the alert to be sounded for non-weather events that could result in loss of life, injury, property damage or contamination, like national emergencies, hazardous materials or bio-terrorism events and a radioactive accident or incident.
Additionally, city officials provided for who can sound the alert system, and gave the 911 center authority to sound the alert when instructed by the mayor or his designee, or as instructed by the Warren County Emergency Management Agency director.
The 911 center itself is allowed to activate the system when communication with the mayor or EMA director is not possible and when the 911 center director believes not doing so could result in the loss of life, injury, property damage or contamination in the alert area.
In related talk, city officials made note of their budgeting $60,000 for fiscal year 2003-2004 for a new weather warning system, but it was not clear Monday when an updated system may become reality.
Haston added that he plans to begin testing the siren regularly. Current plans are to test the city siren every first Friday of each month at noon, weather permitting, he said.