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CHAMPION -- Since January, Ohio has had the most reported tornadoes in the U.S., and with that statistic, local safety officials want to make sure residents stay safe when the weather turns bad.
So it's imperative that Trumbull County's tornado sirens are in working order, John Hickey, director of the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency, said to more than 35 city, village and township officials and fire chiefs at a meeting Thursday at Kent State University at Trumbull.
"Since I have been emergency management director the past three years, the two things that have set me over the edge have been the eclipse, which is done and over, and the other, tornado sirens," he said.
Hickey said he gets many calls from officials and residents about sirens not being heard or not working. But the local EMA is not responsible for the sirens.
"It is important that communities take care of their sirens and make sure they are functioning," he said.
In 2004, the county received a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant for 23 sirens. One was given to each community in the county.
Now, Hickey said, it's time for those replaced and maintained by each individual community.
Including the 23 from the federal grant, Trumbull County has 88 sirens that are activated and monitored by Trumbull County 911.
More of those sirens are located south of state Route 305 rather than in northern parts of Trumbull County. The way the system is set up, when a tornado warning is issued anywhere in the county, all of the sirens are activated.
"Trumbull 911 does not have the capability of segregating and only setting off some sirens. The county is not able to be in quadrants," Hickey said.
He said Warren, Niles and Lordstown are exceptions and set off their own sirens.
THE SYSTEM
Hickey said he is sending a survey to each community to make sure their sirens are checked and work properly. Most of the time when they don't work, the reason is bad batteries or a blown fuse, Hickey said.
But, there are other reasons. For example, Cortland Mayor Deidre Petrosky said the city had problems with an osprey nest on one that created an issue.
The system is checked the first Saturday of each month at noon. If a tornado warning is issued, the sirens are activated for three minutes every 10 minutes until the warning expires.
"People need to understand the sirens are not meant to be heard indoors. They never have been. They are meant to be heard outdoors," he said.
Hickey said he is unable to seek grants for sirens for communities, because sires are considered "old technology" when emergency weather apps and alerts are available. He recommended chiefs and officials contact state representatives to seek state capital budget funds.
Costs have changed for sirens from $14,800 for one in 2004 to more than $30,000 in 2024.