New Talbot County tornado sirens tested today

TALBOT CO. (WRBL)- The first-ever tornado sirens in Talbot County became operational today. The tornado sirens are designed to automatically go off when a warning is issued for the county.

Prior Coverage: https://www.wrbl.com/news/local-news/talbot-co-first-ever-tornado-sirens-installed/

Emergency management performed a series of final tests this afternoon to ensure that the system was ready for the next round of severe weather.

While the sirens did go off during the first test, the tone was hard to hear from a
distance. EMA has continued to troubleshoot this issue the rest of the afternoon.

EMA Director Leigh Ann Erenheim says “The one that we picked first because we thought, well, that may help because it does high and low, and so maybe that would help, you know, to hear some of that. But what we’re finding is, is now that, you know, there might be other tones and that’s the reason you do the initial test.”

These sirens have been in the works since 2019, after a tornado struck downtown Talbotton. Erenheim says that following the tornado, she immediately began to apply for grants to cover the costs of sirens. Talbot County’s sirens are paid for, in part, by grant HMPG 5401-0039. The grant total was $310,670.00.

Talbot County has installed 10 sirens across the county and hopes that this is just
the first wave. Emergency Management wants to remind residents to have multiple ways to receive warnings, including signing up for CODE RED. This is the county alert system.

The sirens are at the following locations:

• Oak Mountain Estates
• Upton’s Lake
• Central School in Talbotton
• Talbotton Sports Complex
• Box Springs Fire Department
• Geneva Fire Department
• Junction City Fire Department
• O’Neal Fire Department
• Woodland Fire Department
• Flint Hill Fire Department