County EMA moving forward with siren activation program

Sept. 19--ANDERSON -- By next spring the Madison County Emergency Management Agency should have the necessary technology in place to activate most of the warning sirens in the county.

Tom Ecker, the agency's director, said Tuesday the equipment is being upgraded.

In January, the Madison County Board of Commissioners asked local units of government to approve a memorandum of understanding to have EMA activate the warning sirens.

Ecker said only Anderson, Chesterfield and Lapel are not signing up for the program.

He said Elwood remains interested in having Madison County EMA activate the sirens.

Ecker said Alexandria is changing over two existing sirens to the required technology and adding a third siren.

"The equipment is ordered," he said. "Testing will start in Green Township, which will be the first testing of the system."

Ecker said in January the county received a $35,000 grant to cover half of the costs with the remainder coming from the EMA budget.

Each community will be responsible to pay for a new radio and the repositioning of antennas so local sirens can be activated from the EMA building in Anderson, he said.

There will be a standard set of protocols for the activation of the sirens.

In other business: The commissioners approved a settlement agreement with Mychal Peak, a former employee of the Madison County Youth Center.

Peak filed a discrimination complaint with the Anderson human relations commissioner and it was transferred to the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.

Peak alleged that he was subjected to a hostile work environment, discrimination and retaliation and was terminated in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

He filed a tort claim against Madison County and agreed to a settlement of $16,500.

County Attorney Jeff Graham said the attorney for the county's insurance carrier recommended the settlement agreement be approved.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.

Protocols to activate emergency sirens

Under the memorandum of understanding:

--The sirens will be activated for severe weather only.

--The sirens will be activated when the National Weather Service issues or re-issues a tornado warning or if a tornado is confirmed near a city or town.

--If the tornado is confirmed, the siren will remain active for as long as the tornado is present in the area.

--The sirens will be activated if the National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning with winds of 70 mph or greater; trained spotters observe a rotating funnel cloud or tornado; or for hail exceeding 1.75 inches.

--No "all clear" signal will be given from the sirens.

___

(c)2018 The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Ind.)

Visit The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Ind.) at www.theheraldbulletin.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.