<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia has completed installation and testing of a new citywide public safety siren system, giving residents a modern, layered outdoor alert network just in time for peak tornado season. The system was successfully tested on Monday, May 11, 2026, according to a city announcement posted the following day.</p><p>The $420,000 project was funded through a 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 across Columbia. Three of those are electric sirens with both audible tones and voice capabilities. The remaining nine are mechanical sirens engineered to deliver powerful, far-reaching warning signals across the city.</p><p>Mayor Chaz Molder said the project reflects the city's ongoing commitment to protecting residents. City Manager Tony Massey echoed that sentiment, noting the investment builds on a strong public safety foundation. The sirens are designed to activate only when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning — meaning a tornado has been sighted or confirmed by radar — and only for the specific areas of the city where the threat is identified.</p><p>Local weather watchers took notice quickly. The Muletown Weather Facebook page celebrated the news, calling it a long-overdue upgrade for Maury County. Storm-season readiness has been a consistent concern for residents in recent years as Middle Tennessee has seen increasingly severe weather events.</p><p>Residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the siren zones in their area and to supplement outdoor alerts with weather apps and NOAA Weather Radio for indoor protection. The city has not announced a public education campaign, but officials have indicated community materials may accompany the rollout.</p>