GARNETT — Anderson County commissioners are defending a recent decision not to replace aging warning sirens in the county. The Anderson County Review reported that the county qualified for a grant to replace outdoor warning sirens throughout the county. The grant would have paid 75 percent of the cost, or slightly more than $97,000. Anderson County would have paid slightly more than $24,000. Sirens in Kincaid, Greeley, Lone Elm, Colony, Welda and Harris operate on electricity and do not have battery-powered backups. If the power goes out, those sirens won’t work. County emergency management director Marvin Grimes says the sirens also are old, and it‘s difficult to find parts for them. However, commissioners said although the grant is a good opportunity, the county can’t afford to match the grant. Commissioner Gene Highberger said the sirens are intended for outdoor warnings and have limited range. The county’s Code Red system, which sends alerts to people via telephone, is more effective at warning people about severe weather. Sirens in the cities of Garnett and Westphalia have battery backups. Those cities paid for new sirens on their own.
Wednesday, June 8, 1 p.m.
