<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia has completed installation and initial testing of a new citywide public safety siren system, marking one of the most significant investments in resident emergency preparedness in the city's recent history. The sirens were successfully tested 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 throughout Columbia. Three electric sirens feature both audible tones and voice capabilities, while nine mechanical sirens are designed to deliver strong, far-reaching warning signals — creating a layered outdoor alerting network designed to reach residents across the entire 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 new system builds on Columbia's strong foundation of public safety infrastructure. The sirens are activated only when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for specific areas where a threat has been identified — meaning residents who hear a siren should treat it as a serious, real-time alert.</p><p>Tornado season is well underway across Middle Tennessee, and the timing of the system's activation could not be more important. Maury County sits in a region that has seen significant severe weather events in recent years, and a reliable, modern alert network fills a critical gap that many residents had long noticed.</p><p>Residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the siren locations in their neighborhoods and to ensure they have a secondary alert method — such as a weather radio or the NWS wireless emergency alert system on their phones — as outdoor sirens are designed to warn people who are outside, not those indoors. For more information, visit the City of Columbia's website.</p>