Two warning sirens in Plymouth fail during test

Marshall County emergency officials are reminding residents not to rely solely on outdoor warning sirens after two local sirens failed to activate during a recent system test.

Marshall County Emergency Management Director Jack Garner reported that the sirens located at the Plymouth Industrial Park and the Plymouth Motor Speedway did not sound during Tuesday’s scheduled drill.

The malfunction serves as a critical reminder about the limitations of the county's siren system. Emergency management officials stress that outdoor warning sirens are specifically designed to alert people who are outdoors and are not intended to wake people up or be heard inside homes and businesses. Furthermore, the siren network does not cover every area of the county.

To ensure safety during severe weather, the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) strongly advises residents to have multiple, redundant ways to receive life-saving warnings. Recommended alternative methods include:

• NOAA Weather Radios: A dedicated device that broadcasts continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office.
• Smartphone WEA Alerts: Ensuring Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled in your phone's settings.
• Marshall County App: Downloading the official Marshall County smartphone app for localized push notifications.
• Verified Sources: Monitoring trusted local news, weather websites, and official social media channels.