Speakout

Outdoor sirens should be heard inside

The City of Sikeston had a tornado siren test on March 7. Unfortunately, most people couldn’t hear the sirens at all if they were indoors. I was told by a city representative that the sirens are only for people who are outside. I think the siren program has become a joke. People should be able to hear the sirens from inside their house, particularly at night. Maybe the city should give up a few of their “budgeted” baseball lights, pickleball courts, seldom used water fountains and other park program funds and help make all the people of Sikeston safer with additional tornado sirens.

We contacted Sikeston Communications Manager David Jenkins who provided the following response: “Weather sirens are only designed to be heard by those who are outdoors or by an open window. They are not guaranteed for people inside. The purchase of additional weather sirens would still just alert people outdoors and not indoors.”