Augusta does not have a tornado siren warning system. But, our research found that Augusta is not alone. We located only 9 sirens total, in seven of the twenty counties in our viewing area. Lincoln, Saluda, Screven, Emanuel, and Allendale each only have one siren, while Columbia and Wilkes county have just two.
the other counties have no warning sirens.
Tornado sirens are common in the Midwest and great plains where strong tornadoes happen more often. Chances are if you grew up around the CSRA you're not used to this blaring noise, but some say it could save lives.
Captain Gary Owens of the Grovetown Department of Public Safety believes the two tornado sirens in his town add early warning and a sense of security.
"You know something's happening in your area, in your neighborhood, it'll give you that time you need to prepare yourself or evacuate an area if need be."
Lifelong Grovetown resident Cathie McNutt lives just fifty yards from the warning siren. She says while it may be loud, she wouldn't want it any other way.
"It's a great thing, you know, I would like to know if something's coming up."
Sounds great, so why aren't tornado sirens everywhere around the CSRA. Columbia County's EMA Director Pam Tucker says there's actually a better way to notify you of danger... weather radios.
"This new technology actually replaced the more outdated, the outdoor tornado sirens type system."
NOAA weather radios have built in alarms to alert you while sleeping if severe weather is on the way. Plus, portable radios can keep you notified outdoors. You can purchase them at many local stores. But, what about that cost. Unlike radios, the outdoor siren system seems like a free public service, Tucker says that's not so.
"A one time 30 dollar investment is so much less cost than what a tax increase would cost to put sirens in this county, that would not even be beneficial, they offer a false sense of security."
This all may be true, but peace of mind is still precious to many Grovetown residents...
"That alarm is so loud that'll let you know, someone might not be listening to the radio, so it would be a really good thing. If I had the choice, I would rather have that siren go off."
But, since sirens won't warn most of us around the CSRA, a NOAA weather radio should certainly be in your household...Ben Peine, NBC Augusta.