Tracy Shirley, Glasgow-Barren Emergency Management director, said the replacement and repair of an outdoor warning siren in Hiseville should happen soon.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
HISEVILLE — A damaged outdoor warning siren will soon be repaired in northeastern Barren County.
The siren was impacted by a tornado ripping through the area Jan. 1. The alert system became completely inactive and nonfunctional.
Tracy Shirley is the director of the county’s emergency management agency. He said the siren’s replacement will cost $28,916. The county has a $5,000 insurance deductible.
“It was located there behind the auto parts store. I’ve been in contact with the fire chief and stuff, and they would like to have it moved to the fire station over there, which works better for us,” Shirley said.
The siren will be placed about 500 yards from its former placement. The land it formerly resided upon was private property but moving it to the fire station property means it will be located on public land, Shirley said.
Insurance has paid the county $18,133 for the replacement. The remaining $5,783 will be reimbursed after the warning system is installed. The final cost paid by the county will be the deductible.
Many in the Green Valley community just outside the city limits have noted a dysfunctional siren. The warning system is not responsive to daily tests.
“Parts are on order, and we’re waiting on them to get in to repair it,” Shirley said.
Emergency management officials said sirens undergo “growl” testing each weekday at noon. The siren activates and rotates once before it stops. A full test is done each Saturday at noon.
Officials used to complete a full test once each month, but waves of inclement weather in December and January changed that.
“Sunday, we have nothing,” Shirley said. “It came to our attention that we were interrupting some church services because we have several close to churches. That was not our intent.”
While they work to verify which sirens work and which do not, the county said the public’s input is the most valuable information. Residents are urged to contact emergency management at (270) 651-4910.
“We’re dependent upon the public to let us know if their siren doesn’t go off that normally does,” Shirley said. “Let us know when it quits going off so we can get it repaired instead of waiting until this bad weather and then say, ‘well this thing hasn’t worked in months.’”
