Warning sirens to be tested

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Residents along the Tippecanoe River will soon hear the squeal of a sirens. Newly installed hazard sirens will be tested for the first time on the morning of the Fourth of July. Emergency Management Director Dave McDowell said in addition to 14 sirens in Carroll County, three new sirens have been installed in the areas that had major flooding over the last two years--Horseshoe Bend, Tecumseh Bend, and near the Oakdale Dam. Resident Tara Higgins has one of the sirens in front of her house. But said she does not mind the noise if it helps others stay safe.

"If it helps my neighbors, which I'm sure it will, I'm fine with it," Higgins said.

"They cover all hazards. But the people along the river are looking specifically for flooding and we will set those off at the 9 thousand cubic feet per second mark. That gives people enough time to get out before the roads are closed," McDowell said.

The Eel River Tribe of Indiana sent out 7,200 postcards alerting resident of the new sirens and the monthly tests.

Sandra Spalding received the postcard in the mail. She said she is thankful for the notice and the new sirens.

"We have a warning if it is going to flood again and helps warn people to get out, especially on the low side," she said.

McDowell said the sirens can be heard all along the river.

"The sirens according to the audio study done by Federal Signal should reach all the people along the river in Carroll County. In fact, some people in White County and Tippecanoe County will hear them too," he said.

But Lafayette residents Lonnie and Ruth Lerch, who lost their first trailer at Horseshoe Bend to flooding in 2008, they are just happy to have some warning.

"It would help a lot. They only had 20 minutes to get out before if they sound the sirens we have a little more time. So I think it will help a lot," Lonnie Lerch said.

The monthly testing of all the sirens in Carroll County, including the three new sirens along the river will be the first Saturday of every month starting at 10 a.m. The test lasts for three minutes.