MOUNT VERNON — Last Wednesday morning, severe weather alert sirens were tested as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week across the state. According to Brian Hess, deputy director of the Knox County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, there was little feedback to his department, which was good news.
Hess said Mount Vernon and Danville schools did not participate because they were on spring break, but other local schools took the opportunity to participate and practice their severe weather drills. Kenyon College and the Mount Vernon Nazarene University did not participate because they, too, were on spring break.
Many local assisted living facilities also practiced their emergency plans.
No news is good news for the emergency management department when the weather alert system is tested.
“If [we] don’t get any feedback, it means that things went without a hitch,” said Hess.
According to Hess, there were no negative reports from any facilities participating in the testing. The only phone calls emergency management received were from people who were not expecting to hear the sirens. According to Hess, there were less than five calls.
Hess said local schools and care facilities are mailed a reminder two to three weeks before the day scheduled for siren testing.
Also, he said, if other businesses call the Emergency Management Department and request to be notified of the annual test, they will be notified at the appropriate time.
There are 15 severe weather sirens in the county, and Hess said that all of them are in working condition. The process of acquiring additional sirens is based on need, according to Hess, depending on population growth areas. Hess also noted that Knox County’s warning siren system is in good shape when compared to some other nearby locations. “We’re not as pressed as [some] other counties,” he said.
