New system monitors bad weather

HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The city has completed the installation of a new weather warning system designed to reach all areas of the community.
Four sirens have been installed, one each at Fire Station No. 3 at Mercer Avenue and Maple Drive, Fire Station No. 2 on Superior Street, a sewer pump station at Highland Road and Dutch Lane and a pump station at South Keel Ridge Road and Virginia Road.
The system can be activated from the Mercer County 911 Center, the Hermitage Fire Department Central Station and from mobile radios in the vehicles of select fire department command officers.
City Manager Gary Hinkson said it will be activated under one of four conditions: severe thunderstorm warning, severe damaging wind warning, tornado warning or some other imminent public safety danger.
Fire Marshal Robert Goeltz said the warning sirens are a steady wail that will sound for three minutes, drop off briefly and sound again for another three minutes. It will recycle for a second time for an additional three minutes for a total of nine minutes, he said.
Anyone hearing the siren should turn on local radio or television stations for more information about the specific emergency and recommended course of action.
The system will be tested at 10 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month by the fire department and quarterly at 9 a.m. on the first Monday of December, March, June and September by the county 911 center.