Lucas County storm siren surprises South Toledoans

6/30/2002

Without a storm cloud in sight, some South Toledo residents were startled yesterday when at least one Lucas County emergency warning siren sounded.

The siren's wail was heard about 7:30 a.m. and lasted for several minutes.

County officials could not pinpoint the siren or the reason, William Halsey, Lucas County emergency management director, said. The sirens are radio-activated, and the radios are “tired and worn out,” Mr. Halsey said.

The county is in the process of a nearly $500,000 project to install two-way radios throughout the emergency warning system so that when a siren doesn't work — or sounds when it shouldn't — “we'll know right away which siren and why,” Mr. Halsey said.

He expects the project to be completed by Labor Day.