News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County EMA to conduct emergency siren testing Friday, the first in several months.
EMA Director Tyler Smith said they try to do the last Friday of every month but have been unable to do so recently because of weather. He said at 10 a.m., the sirens located in each city in the county will test to make sure they are in working order.
“We’re also going to be testing a feature that we have in our vehicles so we can activate those sirens through our mobile radios and our portable radio so we’ll be testing those also,” Smith said. “So you may hear more than one test going on, but it should last no more than 15 minutes or so.”
Smith said this will be the first test in the last three to four months. He said they plan to contact nearby businesses to see if they could be heard once activated.
Smith said the sirens will be heard outdoors to alert those of some type of emergency, typically a tornado. He said the sirens’ range stretches about a mile and half, with the wind playing into the effectiveness.
“We get calls from people saying they’re in their house and they couldn’t hear the sirens, well that’s not what they’re made for you need a weather radio for that this is just for people outside,” Smith said. “Especially around parks or outdoors, it’s just to alert you to take cover indoors.”
