Branson Fire Chief: Downtown tornado siren was broken when Leap Day tornado hit

May 29, 2012|Emily Wood, KY3 News | ewood@ky3.com

Branson, Mo. -- The City of Branson has multiple alert systems to warn residents and visitors about severe weather, but when an EF-2 tornado hit February 29, many tourists and people around town did not get the message they were in danger.

Branson firefighters started testing the town's 23 storm sirens Tuesday. Some of the sirens had known problems.

"When you actually go through it, it's a whole different feeling. It's hard to explain that fear that comes on you," said Gina LaSarge.

The Leap Day tornado hit her neighborhood, and now she stays on high alert when outside, away from her weather radio or cell phone.

"We really rely on the sirens," LaSarge said.

LaSarge heard the sirens sound during testing Tuesday while she was with her children at the Branson RecPlex swimming pool.

"We have a lot of outdoor attractions in our community with the tourism industry, golfing, outdoor attractions, said Branson Fire Chief Ted Martin.

Martin said tornado sirens are very important in Branson, especially for tourists who may not be tuned into any other alert system. The electronically-controlled devices are stationed near schools, parks, and tourism hot spots.

One of the oldest sirens is near downtown and Branson Landing. When the leap day tornado hit, that siren was silent.

"In that storm siren (the one near downtown) we've discovered to be a problem within the mechanical board," Martin said.

Even if the siren near downtown had been working in February, it would not have sounded the night of the tornado. That's because it's one of three that is not battery-operated, and the power was out at the time the tornado hit town.

"That's scary, because the power line goes out, no one going to be warned," LaSarge said.

Martin said it is not in the city's current plans to replace the three sirens that are not battery-operated. New devices would cost more than $20,000 each. However, there is a chance city leaderswill request funding for the new sirens in the future.

Siren testing will continue Wednesday.

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