Why Didn't Outdoor Sirens Sound for Vinton and Garrison During Monday's Storm

By Jillian Petrus, Reporter

Tools

By James Steward

Story Created: Jul 12, 2011 at 10:19 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 13, 2011 at 12:26 AM CDT

VINTON, Iowa - Todd and Sheri Lehman say they felt the storm in Vinton Monday night. They saw the rain and heard the wind, but didn’t hear sirens.

That’s because the outdoor sirens did not go off for Vinton and Garrison early Monday morning when 100 mph wind gusts destroyed trees, homes and power lines.

“I’m not sure which would have beat us to the punch - the sounds of the siren or the sound of the storm blowing through,” Todd Lehman said.

“They may have known something was coming it would have been better to be safe than sorry,” said Lehman’s Wife, Sheri Lehman.

Benton County Emergency Management Director Scott Hansen is the man in charge of setting off the outdoor alert system.

“There’s always a misconception about the sirens they are for outdoor warnings,” said Hansen.

He says the Lehmans and other Vinton and Garrison residents didn’t hear the sirens because they didn’t go off, but also because many people were inside at the time.

“If you’re in your home doors closed air conditioning on you’re not going to hear an outdoor warning siren,” said Hansen.

Hansen says ever home needs a weather radio to alert them to severe weather. Relying only on the outdoor sirens is a mistake.

The EMA director tells us Monday night’s storm shifted quickly. Winds picked up unexpectedly and before he could sound the outdoor alarm the wall of straight line winds hit the town.

“It’s always a judgment call,” he said. “Sometimes we hit it OK, sometimes we miss it a bit.”

Hansen says Benton County likely won’t review the 70 mph policy for setting off the sirens.

He stresses they are for outdoor warnings - people need to prepare themselves inside with a weather radio tuned to their county.

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