By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The normal hum of Barren County was interrupted by the incessant wails of emergency sirens Friday morning.
As part of the statewide tornado drill, Emergency Management Director Garland Gilliam parked his black SUV in the parking lot across from Little Taste of Texas and peered at the distant siren that’s perched atop Luska Twyman Municipal Building on the Glasgow Public Square.
The siren was crying and spinning, which was good.
After a few moments watching the spinning siren and fiddling with his vehicle’s radio, he drove the short distance to the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Communication Center on East Washington Street where a computer giave confirmation that the other 27 emergency sirens across the county received the activation order.
The computer screen was speckled with blue and pink dots, confirming each site received the signal. Deputy Director Marcus Thurman said the fact that there were “no dark red dots” on the screen was a good sign.
Due to schedule changes, Gilliam said they were not able to get people at each one of the sites, but would in future first-Saturday drills. The statewide drill was initially scheduled for Wednesday, March 5. Gilliam said a visual and auditorial inspection will yield better results. For example, he said, the emergency siren on Donnelley Drive received the signal but needed a part that was on back order to work properly.
Garland Gilliam, director of Barren County Emergency Management, checks his communication systems as he sits in his vehicle parked in a lot near downtown Glasgow during the statewide tornado drill Friday morning. Will Perkins/Glasgow News 1
Marcus Thurman, deputy director of Barren County Emergency Management, points out the computer that tracks warning systems spread across Barren County while information reported back during a statewide tornado drill Friday morning. Will Perkins/Glasgow News 1
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