Warning sirens are prepared for emergency, are you?

Now hear this... One of Carroll County’s 19 warning sirens sits atop a light pole at Delphi Community High School. New radio control equipment will allow warnings to be issued anywhere in the county from one location. Sirens were activated manually before the new controls were installed. All warning sirens in the county will be tested the first Saturday of each month beginning Jan. 6. Comet photo by Kevin Schnepp

Carroll County Emergency Management Agency recently announced that upgrades were made to county warning siren equipment as of Nov. 15. Protocols were updated to reflect those changes.

The new system, to be activated during weather emergencies or imminent threats to public safety, will be tested the first Saturday of each month, beginning Jan. 6.

Enhancements to the county warning system equipment include control boxes installed at Carroll County Emergency Management Agency and the Sheriff’s department. The control units activate the sirens via radio signal. Carroll County Emergency Management Agency director Justin Darling said that makes the system more versatile.

“System upgrades now allow us to activate warning sirens remotely,” commented Darling. “We can also activate sirens in unison or individually.”

“Monthly system tests can be beneficial to everyone,” said Darling. “While we verify the sirens are functioning properly, it will also raise awareness with residents and give them an opportunity to practice personal emergency procedures.”

Darling said grant money from homeland security covered the cost of purchasing and installing the new electronic controls. He said little or no county money will have to be used for maintenance due to its closed design.

According to Darling grant money was available because the warning protocol was updated to include nuclear attack, in addition to weather emergencies. Darling said that’s why the system is now called an ‘all hazards warning’ instead of the traditional ‘tornado siren.’

Darling encouraged parents to take the opportunity to educate their children when the sirens go off each month.

“A practice drill is one of the best means of instilling the value of a warning system in young people,” commented Darling. “Teach them to go inside, seek shelter and turn to the radio or television to get further instruction,” he explained.

Darling encouraged residents not to become desensitized to the warning sirens. He said system tests in the past here and in other counties were done as frequently as once a week.

“People have a tendency to become very complacent when alarms are tested too often,” said Darling. “Sounding the warning less than weekly should have a better impact than in the past.”

“A prepared warning system coupled with prepared people will in turn make the county a safer place,” Darling concluded.