When severe storms move into Bladensburg, the Knox County community has to rely on things otherthan sirens to forewarn them, 10 Investigates' Paul Aker reported on Friday.
Danielle Staggers says she gets a warning from a feeling in her wrist.
"I broke it as a kid and when a storm comes through, it hurts," Staggers said.
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Joint pain is not a reliable public warning system, but the community has not had workingtornado sirens for nearly a year.
"When we were under a warning earlier this year, it never sounded anything," Staggers said. "Youcan't tell. That's why out west when they get (a storm) at night is when the death toll rises.Everybody's asleep."
Volunteer Fire Chief Nick Cockrell said that the reason the sirens are not working is twofold;the system started as a fire alarm and was never intended to serve as a tornado siren.
The other reason is age. The siren was installed sometime in the early 1970s and Cockrell saidhis small department cannot afford to replace it.
"(It costs) $20,000 to $22,000 for a new one," Cockrell said. "Yeah, that's not in thebudget."
Knox County Emergency Management officials know that when the wind picks up and tornadoes arepossible, Bladensburg is at risk, but they said there is little they can do about it.
The EMA said the county can sometimes help towns buy sirens, but once they get them, it is up tothe town to pay for repairs.
Cockrell has been trying to get a grant for a more modern siren, but has been turned down, Akerreported.
Ohio EMA officials said the state is not responsible for tornado sirens and there is no statelaw that mandates communities provide them.
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