Three people were killed when the EF3 tornado touched down on March 6. At the time, local officials said existing sirens may not have been heard in the village. The village’s current siren is not designed as a true tornado siren and provides limited coverage, according to a Facebook post from the village.
The new system will be mounted higher than the existing equipment and is designed specifically for severe weather alerts. Officials say it will provide much better coverage across the village.
Village Manager Chris Mathis said the siren will have a one-mile radius and will cover most of the village.
“Given that the Village itself is about 1.5 miles across, this should provide strong coverage throughout town,” Mathis wrote on Facebook.
The village is still working through final placement and installation details, but the system is expected to be installed this year.
The cost of siren systems ranges from $29,000 to $45,000 per system, Mathis said. The village is partnering with Calhoun County 911 to reduce the costs.
Because Union City is located in both Calhoun County and Branch County, the new siren will be triggered by emergency dispatch centers in both counties— Calhoun County 911 and Branch County 911.
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