PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Emergency Management Agency wants to hear from you about Marshall County’s outdoor
warning sirens.
Outdoor warning sirens are one of the most well-known mass alerting methods and have been around since the mid-20th century. Sirens have traditionally been purchased by townships or municipalities, which has led to some areas receiving widespread coverage, while three townships in the county have no siren at all.
In Marshall County, the Dispatch Center controls sirens for Bourbon, Center, and Union Townships. The sirens in Argos, German Township, La Paz, and Tippecanoe are manned by fire departments. County-controlled sirens are automatically triggered when a Tornado Warning is issued for anywhere in the county.
In the digital age, other methods of mass alerting, such as smartphone and broadcast alerts, have become more reliable options for notifying the public about severe weather and other hazards. However, these systems have their own technical issues and are not perfect either.
With the uptick in severe weather in Indiana the last few years, the debate about installing new sirens has been a hot topic. Now is your chance to weigh in! Your opinions will help the EMA collect data that can be used to inform elected officials and pursue grant funding.
We have developed an anonymous survey to seek public input on sirens. Make your voice heard by filling out the form here: forms.gle/1VPN1M3t64PgNAXd8
