COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia has completed installation and testing of a new citywide public safety siren system, marking a significant step forward in emergency preparedness for Maury County's seat. The 12 sirens were successfully tested on Monday, May 11, according to the City of Columbia.
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 equipped with both audible tones and voice capabilities, while nine are mechanical sirens engineered for far-reaching warning signals. Together they form a layered outdoor alerting system designed to cover the full footprint of the city.
Mayor Chaz Molder described the project as a reflection of the city's core obligations. He said investing in public safety remains one of the city's highest priorities and that the new system strengthens Columbia's ability to quickly alert residents when it matters most. City Manager Tony Massey echoed that sentiment, noting the modern, reliable system enhances the city's capacity to deliver timely warnings during emergencies.
Sirens have been placed at fire stations, parks, utility facilities, and elevated points including Reservoir Hill, Golston Hill, Fairview Park, Ridley Park, and pump stations along Bear Creek Pike and Williamsport Pike. The sirens activate only when a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service for the specific areas where a threat has been identified.
City officials stress that outdoor sirens are designed to alert people who are outside and may not always be heard indoors. Residents are strongly encouraged to supplement siren alerts with weather radios, mobile notifications, and local media. Columbia also offers a free emergency alert service called Hyper-Reach, integrated with the National Weather Service and the federal IPAWS system. Residents can sign up by calling or texting "Alert" to 931-286-7771 or registering online at the link below. Future siren test dates will be announced in advance at ColumbiaT N.gov.