OTTAWA — The argument about the storm sirens in Ottawa continued to swirl, this time at Wednesday’s county commission meeting. Following Saturday evening’s severe storms, county emergency management director Alan Radcliffe said his office made a mistake when the sirens weren’t sounded when a tornado warning was issued for Ottawa. Williamsburg City Council member Gene Hirt and Larry Fisher, Ottawa, registered their displeasure, saying the failure to sound the sirens might have had a more tragic end if a tornado had actually hit Ottawa. However, County Clerk Shari Perry defended Radcliffe, saying he does a good job keeping the county safe. Sirens aren’t always foolproof and there are a wide variety of ways that residents can keep track of threatening weather conditions and act on their own, she said. Radcliffe said he’ll will meet with city and county officials Friday to review the weekend’s storms and the policy on sirens.
Thursday, May 26, 1:30 p.m.