 |
|
|
WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
Nashville's severe weather warning system is getting a major upgrade.
Metro’s Office of Emergency Management plans to upgrade all 73 existing sirens and put up 20 new ones all in an effort to save precious seconds that could prevent a tragedy.
Twenty two tornadoes tore through the Midstate in January. They caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage and even claimed a life.
Gene Hartsell was killed when a tornado knocked a tree onto the shed where he was sleeping in Bordeaux. Relatives said a better siren might have saved Hartsell's life.
“If he would have known that and heard that might have would have woken him up a little bit better than I did and made him come on in,” said Deadrick Lockridge, Hartsell’s relative.
The Metro Office of Emergency Management is hoping to prevent future fatalities by changing the sound emergency sirens emit from a digital-sounding tone to a more mechanical sound, like a military, air-raid siren.
"The key thing is it will be distinctive,” said Scott Potter, director of Metro Water Services. “I think people will associate the sound with danger and will prompt them to go inside."
City officials say the new sound will also be audible from farther distances, and armed with 20 new sirens, the warning system is expected to reach more people.
"That enlarges and expands our footprint from a standpoint of being able to hear it," said Charles Shannon, assistant fire chief.
The new siren locations are based on 2010 census data and take into account changing population density.
"The old system that was installed in 2002 had reached the end of its useful life so we needed a new system to replace that but we also wanted to expand the system,” Potter said.
The new sirens are planned to go up as far north as Goodlettsville, and as far east as Hermitage.
In the south, Antioch is getting five new sirens, and the farthest west is near Bellevue Park.
Here in Bordeaux, the new plan will upgrade the siren 1.5 miles east of the home where Hartsell was killed, and build a brand new one 2 miles to the south.
"I hope it plays a part in the next storm that comes through and saves somebody's life," Lockridge said.
Metro’s Office of Emergency Management plans to upgrade all 73 existing sirens and put up 20 new ones all in an effort to save precious seconds that could prevent a tragedy.
Twenty two tornadoes tore through the Midstate in January. They caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage and even claimed a life.
Gene Hartsell was killed when a tornado knocked a tree onto the shed where he was sleeping in Bordeaux. Relatives said a better siren might have saved Hartsell's life.
“If he would have known that and heard that might have would have woken him up a little bit better than I did and made him come on in,” said Deadrick Lockridge, Hartsell’s relative.
The Metro Office of Emergency Management is hoping to prevent future fatalities by changing the sound emergency sirens emit from a digital-sounding tone to a more mechanical sound, like a military, air-raid siren.
"The key thing is it will be distinctive,” said Scott Potter, director of Metro Water Services. “I think people will associate the sound with danger and will prompt them to go inside."
City officials say the new sound will also be audible from farther distances, and armed with 20 new sirens, the warning system is expected to reach more people.
"That enlarges and expands our footprint from a standpoint of being able to hear it," said Charles Shannon, assistant fire chief.
The new siren locations are based on 2010 census data and take into account changing population density.
"The old system that was installed in 2002 had reached the end of its useful life so we needed a new system to replace that but we also wanted to expand the system,” Potter said.
The new sirens are planned to go up as far north as Goodlettsville, and as far east as Hermitage.
In the south, Antioch is getting five new sirens, and the farthest west is near Bellevue Park.
Here in Bordeaux, the new plan will upgrade the siren 1.5 miles east of the home where Hartsell was killed, and build a brand new one 2 miles to the south.
"I hope it plays a part in the next storm that comes through and saves somebody's life," Lockridge said.
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 09:39 PM CST
Tennessee News
Couple's bodies found in their Blount County home
May 20, 2013 20:14 GMT
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Blount (blunt) County sheriff's office says preliminary results of autopsies on the bodies of a couple found dead in their home in Louisville (LEW'-ihs-vil) show their deaths are consistent with murder-suicide.
Marian O'Briant said in an email that it appears 54-year-old Steven Adkins shot 53-year-old Rebecca Adkins, then shot himself.
O'Briant said a family member found the bodies Sunday night. It wasn't clear how long they had been dead.
News Stories
Local Headlines
Couple's bodies found in their Blount County home
Pediatrician says DCS challenges medical opinions
Firefighters find body in burned Memphis house
FWS to consider concerns about endangered fish
Bonnaroo and then what? More events could follow
Union County DUI stop turns up 300 pounds of pot
Chattanooga festival expands smoke-free zone
National exhibit on Civil War in Nashville
 |
|
|
Newsmax Headlines
 |
|
|
Business News
United 787 takes to the skies
HOUSTON (AP) -- United Airlines has one of its 787 aircraft back in the air.
Consumer Info
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: FINANCIAL TIMES SITS HACKED
LONDON (AP) -- Another attack on a media site -- and again, one that is being claimed by the Syrian Electronic Army.
Get This
BRAS A FIRE HAZARD?
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- We haven't heard this much about the threat of bra burning since the days of the women's liberation movement.
IE6 Float Fix
