Litchfield Township Turns Off Tornado Sirens

LITCHFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) – Tornado sirens, which have been used for decades to warn residents of Litchfield Township in Medina County of approaching dangerous weather conditions, will be shut down in late August.

“It was not a decision we made lightly. We talked about it a lot and we’ve been talking about it for months,” said Litchfield Township Trustee Michael Pope.

County officials concluded that the sirens, activated by the Medina County Sheriff’s Office after tornado warnings were received from the National Weather Service, were only heard outdoors in some areas and were not always reliable.

“We’ve had storms and by the time they let us know, the storm had already passed and they were back at it. So it’s not the best system,” Pope said.

A major factor in the decision to turn off the tornado sirens was the cost. This included $4,000 per year to maintain and inspect the sirens and more than $10,000 per year to power the warning system.

“We’re not a federal government, we can’t just print that money, and you know, we have to work within a budget and it’s a very small budget,” Pope said.

Additionally, three of the seven tornado sirens in Litchfield Township will need to be replaced, at a cost of $30,000 for each new siren.

“With today’s new technology, everyone has a cell phone in their pocket, usually with weather apps on it,” Pope said.

Officials say residents can be better informed of an approaching tornado if they use their smartphones, purchase a weather radio and/or sign up for Medina County emergency alerts.

“I think the phone or a radio in the house would alert you immediately and tell you to take cover,” Pope said.

Here you can sign up for alerts from the Medina County Emergency Management Agency.