Atlanta

Why didn’t tornado sirens go off in Bartow County during Sunday’s storms? Here’s what we learned

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — Following Sunday night’s storms, people across Bartow County contacted Channel 2 Action News and said they never heard tornado sirens go off.

Channel 2’s Tom Jones started talking with city and county officials about the issues.

The Bartow County Fire Department has said over and over the sirens are to warn people outside to seek shelter.

But people like Emerson City Councilman Vincent Wiley said they provided a sense of protection for people inside and wants to know why the sirens didn't go off.

“I need to know what went on,” Wiley said.

Bartow County is where one of the state’s eight storm-related deaths happened.

RELATED STORIES:

William McConnell, 34, was killed when a huge tree fell on his home in Cartersville. The tree fell about 1:15 a.m.

The tornado warning went out about 1:04 a.m.

Wiley believes the warning might have helped McConnell.

“Possibly if a siren had gone off he possibly would have heard it. It could have saved his life,” Wiley said.

Jones contacted Bartow County Sheriff Clark Milsap to find out why the sirens didn't go off. He never heard back from the sheriff.

A Cartersville radio station said it spoke to the sheriff and reported that Milsap said a Bartow 911 supervisor did not turn on the sirens, the matter was handled internally, and it wouldn't happen again.

Wiley said the public deserves to know exactly what happened.

“We need to know. We need to be transparent. We need to know what went on,” Wiley said.

No matter what went on, the Bartow County Fire Department has repeatedly said the weather alert sirens are designed to warn those outside of an approaching tornado and to seek shelter. They're not for people inside.

Wiley said for some people inside, it provides a sense of safety.

“If that siren had gone off, that would be another level of protection,” Wiley said.

McConnell’s mother also sent Channel 2 Action News an email asking why didn't the sirens go off.

People in Bartow County said they pay for this service and it makes no sense not to use it during a tornado warning.