Wednesday, April 21, 1999
Middletown agonizes over lack of sirens
BY JANET WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — City commissioners had a lengthy debate over the need for tornado sirens Tuesday, but reached no decision.
For every argument citing their value and the need for them, there was another citing their inefficiency and saying the estimated $200,000 cost could be better spent.
“There's a national consensus of people out there that don't believe in the benefits of those sirens,” Commissioner Paul Nenni said. “Do they really save lives?”
Mr. Nenni said he has read many reports about the April 9 tornado in suburban Cincinnati and storms elsewhere, and rarely found an incident where sirens saved lives.
“On the other hand, if we don't get them, and we have a storm like that come through this valley, then what?” Commissioner Robert Hill said.
“One life should be worth more money than we even have. It could be our own.”
Commissioner Fred Sennet said he has fought for sirens in the city more than 20 years, but always hears the same arguments on costs and effectiveness.
“It only takes one wipeout,” he said.
One resident, William Lyninger, said people should ask why a city of 54,527 people, 23,033 homes and 25,486 square miles has no sirens when smaller surrounding communities do.
“Ask yourselves why we live in a community that does not care about lives of our innocent children,” he said, adding that the city needs both sirens and weather-alert radios.
After the meeting, Mr. Lyninger said most everyone in Middletown assumed the city had sirens.
“It's time for the city to make sure we get them,” he said. “We've waited too long.”
In a report to commissioners, Fire Chief John Sauter and Police Chief Bill Becker said that while there are many pros and cons to sirens, they recommend the city buy nine to 11 to be placed throughout the community.
They also recommend the city establish a weather-alert radio program to help citizens get them for their homes.
When asked by commission President Earl Smith whether tornado sirens or, for instance, portable defibrillators would save more lives, Chief Sauter said that in his 20 years on the department, the defibrillators would have saved more.
“I have mixed feelings about this, too,” Mr. Smith said. “I hate to put a cost on it, but we've had no great damage from storms here for more than 50 years. How far do you go financially with those risks?”
City Manager Ron Olson said the money could be found in the budget and recommended commissioners approve the sirens.
“It's a contingency, like a standing army,” Mr. Olson said.
Commissioners agreed to have the police and fire chiefs get details on the precise number of sirens needed and their cost.
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