One Tornado Siren To Be Repaired in Pettis County

The Sedalia/Pettis County Emergency Management has been working on repairing three sirens that did not sound off in a recent test. Sedalia/Pettis County EMA Director, David Clippert issued the following statement.

In May as we conducted our warning siren test we found one siren in Hunters Ridge did not sound and another in Maplewood. Those sirens have been repaired and are now back in operation. The siren in Walnut Hills also did not sound. Today Blue Valley Public Safety was not able to repair the siren and will return at a later date to attempt the repair. I do not have a return date.

The below recommendations are given as alternate/redundant ways to receive severe weather alerts:

NOAA All Hazards Alert Radio: Every home should have a weather radio programmed to Pettis County. When a severe weather warning is issued it will be sent over the NOAA system and will sound the alarm in your home. They are very inexpensive and will alert you in the middle of the night. The newer radios are much easier to program, but if you bring it to us we will program it for you.

Wireless Emergency Alert: Issued by the National Weather Service, this is an automatic tornado alert notification sent to your “smart phone”. If you have a “smart phone” you can go to your apps and see if you have an app titled ‘Emergency Alerts”. These are automatic alerts and you do not need to sign up for these.

NIXLE: You can go to www.nixle.com and sign up for text alert messages provided by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office. You can also text 65301 to 888777 and follow the instructions.

Facebook: Like the Sedalia-Pettis County Emergency Management Agency on Facebook. Updated information with graphic is provided anytime we have a risk for severe weather.

Although sirens are an important tool in warning the public of tornados, they should never be relied upon as the only source for tornado warnings. Technology has provided us with more ways to disseminate severe weather alerts then at any other time in our history. The best way to protect your self is to have a situational awareness. We know that Tuesday, June 3rd we have a possibility of severe weather in the late afternoon into the evening hours. Everyone should have a heightened sense that severe weather could strike and strike quickly. Using a combination of the above will help to protect you and your family.