<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia has completed installation and testing of a new citywide public safety siren system, giving residents a reliable outdoor warning network just as Middle Tennessee heads into its most active severe weather season. The sirens were successfully activated in a test on Monday, May 11, according to a city announcement posted May 12.</p><p>The project was funded through a $420,000 Community Development Block Grant Imminent Threat Program and completed in partnership with the South Central Tennessee Development District. The system includes 12 strategically placed sirens: three electric units with both audible tones and voice-broadcast capability, and nine mechanical sirens engineered to send strong, far-reaching signals across the city's 235 square miles of roadway.</p><p>Mayor Chaz Molder said the investment reflects the city's ongoing commitment to protecting the people who call Columbia home. City Manager Tony Massey added that the modern, reliable alert system will enhance the city's ability to deliver timely warnings when residents need them most.</p><p>Residents should know that the sirens are designed strictly for outdoor alerting — they are not intended to be heard inside buildings. The Muletown Weather Facebook page noted after the test that the system answered questions many neighbors had, including clarifying that the sirens will only be activated when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for a specific area of the city — meaning a tornado has been sighted or confirmed by radar. They are not all-hazard alarms triggered for every storm watch.</p><p>The practical takeaway for Maury County families: when you hear these sirens, act immediately. Do not wait to confirm on your phone. Get to your interior room, lowest floor, away from windows. The sirens are one layer of a warning system — pair them with a weather radio and the NWS app for the fullest protection.</p>