<p>COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia has finished installing and successfully testing a new citywide public safety siren system, completing a project that city leaders say represents one of the most meaningful investments in resident safety in recent memory. The 12 sirens were activated for a system-wide test on Monday, May 11, 2026, and all units performed as designed.</p><p>The project was funded through a $420,000 Community Development Block Grant under the CDBG Imminent Threat Program and was completed in partnership with the South Central Tennessee Development District. Of the 12 units, three are electric sirens capable of both audible tones and voice announcements, while nine are mechanical sirens engineered to push strong, far-reaching signals across the city's neighborhoods.</p><p>Mayor Chaz Molder said the project reflects the city's ongoing commitment to protecting residents. He noted that investing in public safety remains among the highest priorities for Columbia's leadership, and that the new system strengthens the city's ability to quickly alert residents when it matters most. City Manager Tony Massey echoed that sentiment, saying the modern, reliable alert system enhances the city's capacity to deliver timely warnings across the community.</p><p>Residents should know that the sirens will only be activated when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning — meaning a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar — and only for the specific areas of Columbia where the threat has been identified. This targeted approach is designed to minimize alarm fatigue while ensuring warnings are taken seriously when sounded.</p><p>The siren network is part of a broader push by Columbia's city government to modernize its emergency infrastructure. Maury County residents who live outside city limits are encouraged to check with Maury County Emergency Management about outdoor alert coverage in their areas, and all residents are reminded that outdoor sirens are designed to alert people who are outside — a weather radio or smartphone alert app remains the best tool for warnings when you're indoors.</p>