Siren policy

To the editor:

Why is Douglas County so reluctant to warn its residents about tornadoes? When the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning last Thursday night, sirens did not go off.

I was listening to the radio the next day and heard Bob Newton say that in order for the county to sound the sirens, someone has to visually confirm a tornado, that the National Weather Service issuing a tornado warning was not enough.

I am outraged at this criteria because nighttime tornadoes are rarely seen. By the time one is spotted in the dark, it might be too late. If the NWS has issued a tornado warning, that’s reason enough to sound the sirens. Better safe than sorry.

Newton was explaining that they didn’t want to desensitize people by sounding the sirens too often. I don’t believe the NWS issues a tornado warning very often – once a year, maybe? I don’t believe sounding the sirens once a year would desensitize people.

We all know, especially after Greensburg, that nighttime tornadoes are very dangerous. One shouldn’t have to be visually confirmed (in the dark!) before Douglas County sounds the sirens.

I hope the criteria are changed, at least for nighttime hours.

Katie Jennings,
Lawrence