ASHLAND COUNTY — Action from county lawmakers Thursday addressed a longstanding gap in tornado siren coverage for a northern Ashland County school district.
The Ashland County Board of Commissioners accepted a $37,670.57 estimate from VASU Communications for the purchase of a solar tornado siren to be placed at the Black River Local Schools campus.
The action was requested by Anne Strouth, director of the Ashland County Emergency Management Agency, and will be funded out of the EMA’s budget.
Black River’s campus is located in northern Ashland County in Sullivan. The district spreads across portions of Ashland, Lorain and Medina counties.
Ashland County Commissioner Denny Bittle said the campus has been a non-serviced area, as far as tornado siren coverage, for a lengthy stretch of time.
“Black River (Local) Schools really was not within the sound of sirens,” Bittle said. “That’s been a bad spot for a long time for us (the county).”
There is an existing tornado siren in Sullivan, but commissioners said the sound it emits does not reach the campus.
“It’s a real dead spot,” Bittle said. “With the school being up there, that’s something that was kind of a priority we needed to get done right away, as soon as we could.”
What is the range of a tornado siren?
Tornado sirens have an audible coverage area of about one to two miles in any direction, according to WeatherCall. However, the siren can become more difficult to hear during rain or hail that may accompany a severe storm.
The speed and direction of wind may also impact the range of the siren’s sound.
Solar siren to replace electric model in Mifflin Township
Commissioners also accepted an estimate of $33,720.57, also from VASU, for the
purchase of a solar tornado siren for Mifflin Township, as requested by Strouth.
It will be funded by the county EMA’s budget.
Commissioner Michael Welch said the township was due to have a new siren put up.
As sirens throughout the county have been replaced, he said the county has been trying to transition them all to solar to help with maintenance.
Bittle said solar sirens are also more efficient than electric in terms of cost.
