Mahoning Co. to repair seven sirens

YOUNGSTOWN — Five of Mahoning County’s 58 emergency warning sirens failed to sound, and two others sounded at reduced volume this morning in the annual test that marks the beginning of tornado season.

The county hopes to have all seven repaired by the end of the week, said Walter Duzzny, county emergency management director. Cold winter weather likely took its toll on some of the batteries and mechanics of the radio-activated rooftop sirens, he explained, adding that about 10 of them date back to the 1950s civil defense era.

Attentiveness to the school tornado drills that accompanied the siren test was heightened this year because of the tornado that recently hit an Alabama school, killing eight people, Duzzny said.

Sirens that failed to sound were in Youngstown, Boardman, Lowellville and Craig Beach. The two that sounded at reduced volume were at Austintown fire stations. Weekly siren tests will continue at noon Saturdays this year, Duzzny said.