Milton To Install Final Tornado Siren

MILTON, GA — The city of Milton will soon begin installing the 11th and final tornado siren within its jurisdiction. Residents can expect this siren to go up in the Birmingham Highway/Ga. 372 corridor near Birmingham Falls Elementary School.

The address for the location is 14795 Wood Road, a heavily wooded lot owned by the city. The installation at this location will help "ensure the health and safety of nearby homeowners and schoolchildren," the city said in an email blast.

Milton currently has a system of 10 sirens. However, a gap was identified in the central area of Ga. 372 during the original design-build analysis for the system. The city initially set out to procure 10 sirens; however during the analysis phase of the project, it was determined that 11 sirens would be needed to provide adequate coverage for citizens and stakeholders.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here)

While there are other areas that could benefit from a boost in coverage based on the 65 dB standard, the city contends these areas are so small that sound from any number of surrounding sirens likely will reach these locations as well. The installation of the 11th siren will assist with addressing that final gap.

"In addition, there are siren systems in Cherokee County, Alpharetta all along our southern border, and in Forsyth County, so we are surrounded by sirens that would also support our system's reach should an incident occur," the city added.

The current timeline indicates installation will occur around July at the high point of the property, just northeast of the trail. The siren will be installed on a 40-foot pole and coated black to match the city's streetlamp specifications.

This location was selected primarily to balance out coverage throughout the rest of the city, along with other considerations such as access to power, avoidance of underground utilities (gas and water), topography, tree canopy, and property availability and easements. The site also provides the most optimal location for both the humans served by this siren — and the nearby large animal populations that can be negatively impacted by excessive loud noise.

As with all our tornado sirens located within the city, the Milton Fire-Rescue Department will follow its same monthly testing protocols. meaning we will actively test the system but will not activate the siren (noise) during monthly testing. If you hear siren testing in Milton, and you have not received an email or read a social media post with an advance testing notice, it is likely that you are hearing siren testing in an adjacent jurisdiction.

Please note that the installation process for a new siren involves active testing of the siren to ensure the equipment is working properly prior to the contractor completing the installation. Before that occurs, the city will confirm the date and provide advance notice of the active testing via an official city email, on its website and Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Image via city of Milton