Stella Concerned Over Storm Warnings

STELLA – The Stella Village Board discussed outdoor emergency sirens at its June 3 meeting.

Board members noted that the outdoor warning sirens did not sound on May 27, when there was wind damage in the south part of town. There were power outages and a fire on a power pole.

Board members attended a Richardson County Board of Commissioners regarding the issue.

Emergency Management Director Brian Kirkendall said there is a set policy regarding the sounding of sirens and the criteria was not met for Stella in the May storms.

Sirens are sounded if any of these circumstances exist:

• A trained spotter sees a tornado forming or sees one on the ground
• A law enforcement officer sees a tornado forming or sees one on the ground
• A citizen reports seeing a tornado forming or on the ground and additional confirmation can not be timely obtained.
• A tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service. Conditions are highly possible for a tornado, but weather conditions are such that a tornado is not sighted.

Kirkendall said neither a tornado watch or warning was issued for the storms that caused wind damage in Stella.