<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia has completed installation and testing of a new citywide public safety siren system, city officials announced May 12. The 12 sirens were tested Monday, May 11, and are now operational, marking one of the most significant investments in resident safety infrastructure Columbia has made in years.</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. Three of the sirens are electric units capable of both audible tones and voice alerts; the remaining nine are mechanical sirens built to project strong, far-reaching warning signals across the city's 235 centerline miles of streets and neighborhoods.</p><p>Mayor Chaz Molder said public safety remains the city's highest priority. City Manager Tony Massey echoed that sentiment, noting the system builds on Columbia's existing public safety foundation and enhances the city's ability to deliver timely, life-saving warnings. The sirens will be activated only when the National Weather Service issues an official tornado warning — meaning a tornado has been confirmed by sighting or radar — and only for the specific areas of Columbia where the threat is identified.</p><p>Local weather observers at Muletown Weather welcomed the news, noting on social media that Maury County residents now have the outdoor alerting infrastructure the community has long needed heading into peak storm season. Residents are reminded that the sirens are an outdoor alert tool; families should also maintain a battery-powered weather radio indoors and sign up for Maury County's CodeRED emergency notification system for direct phone and text alerts.</p><p>The system represents a layered approach to community safety — one that pairs modern technology with the kind of practical, neighbor-protecting investment that Maury County taxpayers can point to with pride. More information is available at the City of Columbia's website.</p>