Cape official: More warning sirens needed

~ Assistant fire chief reports only a quarter of the city within earshot of warning system.

The devastation caused to Southeast Missouri towns by tornados demonstrates the need to install a complete warning siren system in Cape Girardeau, an emergency officials says.

To date, only about a quarter of the city is in earshot of the four warning sirens, Cape Girardeau fire assistant chief Mark Hasheider said.

With many areas in the city where a person can be without a nearby television or radio, it is vital they are able to receive some sort of warning.

"Those people who are outside would not be covered," Hasheider said.

While Jackson is completely covered with eight warning sirens which became operational in May, it will take longer to do so in Cape Girardeau because of the city's size. As each siren only encompasses an area of 1.5 miles in the best conditions, at least 15 sirens are needed to completely cover Cape Girardeau, Hasheider said.

The cost runs about $19,000 to install the siren and pole at each location. Money is sought from civic organizations, businesses and private donors to help fund the remaining sirens, Hasheider said.

The sirens would be installed first in areas of highest importance, such as where people are located with no means to warn them about approaching storms like parks or business districts, Hasheider said.

"There are going to be a number of people out and about that we feel need to be warned," he said.

Sirens now in place are at Arena Park, Kiwanis Park, Shawnee Park and County Park North. Southeast Missouri State University also has its own siren on campus.

The next locations to receive a warning siren include business districts near the interstate and at Central and Notre Dame Regional high schools, Hasheider said. He hoped the entire town would be covered in four years.

Installing all the warning sirens for Cape Girardeau may seem especially prudent in light of an increase in the number and severity of tornados in Southeast Missouri over the last few years.

"Since 2002, there's been a flare-up in activity," National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Noles said. "Southeast Missouri has been hit especially hard."

Noles was quick to point out that more tornadoes causing greater damage in recent years was not a trend.

"We're in a cycle where we've just had more than our share," he said, adding there was just as great a chance that in the next 10 years the area could experience fewer tornados.

Outside of tests every first Wednesday of the month at noon, the sirens will sound whenever a tornado warning is issued in Cape Girardeau County, Hasheider said. The sirens may also sound if local authorities, such as police or fire departments, spot a funnel cloud.

When the sirens sound, Hasheider recommended people take immediate cover and tune in to the local media outlets to learn more about the situation.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127