In the heart of Kansas and tornado country, officials in the Reno County town of Nickerson say they're faced with the danger of an unreliable tornado siren system.
The sirens didn't sound when the town last had a tornado threat last year, newly-elected Nickerson Mayor Peggy Ruebke told Wichita station KSN. Ruebke said the county volunteer fire department is in charge of sounding the sirens in town and that they have had some problems and malfunctions with the system. Fixing or replacing the aging siren system could cost thousands of dollars, she said.
The city plans to address the issue at its May council meeting, she said. Nickerson is located to the northwest of Hutchinson.
Until the system is reliable, Reno County Emergency Management has suggested residents use a system the county has paid for called Everbridge that provides tornado and weather alerts. Residents can sign up using email, a landline, or cellphone.
Residents may also use the National Weather Service or buy a weather radio, the county emergency office said.
