TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – We’re used to the outdoor warning sirens alerting people about severe weather, even a tornado, in this area.
They’re costly to maintain and it turns out they’re not mandated by law. Some Ohio counties don’t even use them anymore.
Now the I-TEAM is taking a look at what’s being done to either revamp them or get rid of them all together.
As we have looked into these siren for several weeks, one thing is clear. Emergency managers say these sirens should only be one way to get warnings. They recommend having several ways to get your information.
With the one year anniversary of Toledo’s Point Place tornado approaching, you’d imagine this community would be on high alert for tornados. One of those alerts is the outdoor warning or tornado siren at the intersection of Shoreland, Benore and Suder.
“I’ve been trying to get it fixed for, it’s gotta be, two and half years now. They just keep telling me parts are ordered and when the part gets here it’ll be fixed,” said Toledoan Joseph Purnia.
The I-TEAM watched and listened with Purnia during the March monthly tornado siren test. The siren didn’t sound. It also didn’t sound during the statewide drill later that month. While not comforting, this malfunction was not violating any law or regulation. That’s because in Ohio there is no law requiring outdoor warning or tornado sirens.
“Sirens are another tool in the tool box,” said Abby Buchhop, the Director of the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency.
Buchhop stresses sirens are just one way people are warned about severe weather. They are designed to only be heard outside. If you’re inside, they’re not designed to work for you.
“There are some sirens that have been damaged beyond repair. Those have essentially been taken out of service,” said Buchhop. “Sometimes when sirens have been taken out of service, if they’re very old, there are newer sirens that have gone in that coverage or that gap has been fulfilled then they have opted not to repair or replace it.
Local media broadcasts, weather radios, email and app alerts are great to have as well. People should not rely on the sirens that each county handles differently.
The I-TEAM contacted all 88 counties to learn their siren policy. 12 counties have no sirens at all and use things like text alerts or reverse 911. That’s when the emergency management teams call you.
For the counties with sirens, almost everyone is different. In Lucas County if one siren is sounded, all roughly 130 sound. Compare that to places like Jackson County where the small village of Coalton is the only place with one. Statewide lots of counties don’t operate the sirens, it’s up to each individual jurisdiction. In Scioto County, for example, the only siren sits on the campus of Shawnee State University.
Why don’t places have them?
Here was the answer in Morgan County which between Columbus and the West Virginia line. According to the EMA there: “Due to the size of the county and the dispersion of residents, sirens would be largely ineffective.”
The I-TEAM asked if there were any discussion of phasing out the Lucas County siren program.
“There isn’t any intention of doing that in Lucas County at this time. Since they were installed are there more perhaps effective warning and notification?” said Buchhop.
As people come around to those, some still feel the comfort in the siren. But the message is that they cannot be your only source of comfort.
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