Storm siren dead zones in the Tri-state

By Stuart Peck - bio | email | Twitter

DAVIESS COUNTY, KY (WFIE) - Do you hear storm sirens?

14 News has learned some Tri-state residents live in so-called dead zones and can't hear the warning when a storm is approaching.

When the severe weather rolls in, many of us are familiar with the wailing of the storm siren to let us know to turn on our TV or even take cover.

But for many residents in the Tri-state there are no sirens to sound, and that warning could come too late.

In Curdsville, Kentucky neighbors pride themselves in their quiet community.

Many have lived in the small town a lifetime.

"He's lived out here and his dad's lived out here forever," Curdsville resident Brooke Wilcheck said.

But in Curdsville, what you don't hear could be dangerous.

She has grown accustomed to not hearing the storm sirens when severe weather is near.

Not having any warning is unsettling.

"Cause we have a baby out here and there's plenty of families out here that have little babies and little kids and they want to know they're going to be safe," Wilcheck said.

And Curdsville is not alone, all over the Tri-state there are dead zones, areas where the wail of the tornado siren cannot be heard.

That's why Emergency Management Officials say it's important to be prepared.

"It doesn't matter how many sirens are out there, you know, if you're not prepared if you're not watching the weather," Daviess County EMA Director Richard Payne said.

In Daviess County, the Emergency Management Office stays prepared as well, every Friday the county's storm sirens are tested at noon.

"Really rarely will we find one that just does not work but if it does we have maintenance people that is just right on top of them, because we keep up with them very closely," Payne said.

The same test is done almost simultaneously at central dispatch every Friday in Evansville.

"They're working 24 hours, there's always someone there," Vanderburgh Co. EMA Director Sherman Greer said.

With the growing population in the Tri-state, keeping those dead zones covered with storm sirens is a challenge.

When looking for a place to put a new storm siren, Greer said they look for places where they can get the most bang for their buck, like close to a school.

"We work together with area planning and the city engineer and county engineer," Greer said.

Whether you live miles from a storm siren, or have one right next door, it shouldn't be your only source of warning when storms hit.

"You must be aware of what's going on around you. No matter what we do as far as getting the word out, you must be aware of your own surroundings," Payne said.

Greer recommends having a weather radio, and watching the weather.

"If you're getting ready to go out, and the sky is a greenish-grayish color and the temperature is dropping that's probably not a good time to continue on to where you are going," Greer said.

During the day Wilcheck tries to keep an eye on the sky, but she says living in a dead zone at night is an Erie feeling.

"If we're asleep and there's storm hits, if we don't wake up, we don't know what's going to happen and we don't really have anywhere else to go if something hit out here," Wilcheck said. "We don't have a storm cellar or a basement, so, we really need to know whenever something is coming so we can get, go to somebody else's house."

There's a number of ways you can stay informed when severe weather hits the Tri-State.

Officials from Vanderburgh and Daviess County said storm sirens are outdoor warning systems and are not meant to be heard indoors.

There's also Thunder Call and breaking news emails provided by 14 News.

If you want to find out if you live in a storm siren dead zone, click here to view the Vanderburgh County storm siren map or here for the Daviess County map.

Here are the results of Stuart's Twitter poll.  Did you hear the sirens at 12:00?

jtkohlmeyer @StuartPeck14 storm sirens heard at USI

nedrubwerd@StuartPeck14 Hearing several warning sirens winding up now!

m1chie@StuartPeck14 hearing the sirens at 25th and new Hartford

Mr_Bloggerific@StuartPeck14 Oh Stuuuuuart...we hear the sirens. South central Owensboro. Loud and clear. can hear about 3 towers it seems.

nathanryder14@StuartPeck14 I heard the sirens at my house near Lloyd and Boeke and lots of them!

Kendra311@StuartPeck14 I heard 2-3 different sirens at my house (near Masonville, south of Owensboro). They didn't seem as loud as usual, though.

Jesse224@StuartPeck14 Tornado sirens work in the Philpot Ky area!

debbiebush@StuartPeck14 Heard the sirens on the west side of Evansville

Austin_Inge@StuartPeck14 yep, i definitely heard the sirens on USI's campus.

BenGarbarek@StuartPeck14 I heard the sirens from our office.

BrandonBartlett@StuartPeck14 I didn't hear them and I have my window open!

danarbaugh@StuartPeck14 I heard the sirens (in downtown Evansville)

a20s@StuartPeck14 I heard them. They STILL always creep me out, too. Stupid storm fear...

amfjb@StuartPeck14 I heard the sirens

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