Did Adairsville's Tornado Sirens Sound?

Did Bartow County's tornado sirens sound Jan. 30 in Adairsville before an EF-3 tornado ravaged the area, killing one, injuring several others and damaging hundreds of buildings?

Some locals say the answer is no.

Adairsville resident Elaine Cooke told Cartersville Patch on Jan. 31 that she didn't hear tornado warning sirens at her home at Cass Street and MLK Drive. Cooke said a huge tree in her yard crushed her friend's car within 30 seconds of the women getting out of the vehicle.

Other residents called 911 minutes before the twister hit to say the tornado sirens were not working, WSB-TV reports. One of the 911 callers asked why the sirens in Adairsville had not sounded, according to a transcript published by WSB.

Ashley White, who lives within feet of a tornado siren, told the station she was outside playing with her children and the sirens near her home did not sound.

In January, Bartow County Fire Department Chief and Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Millsap told Cartersville Patch that officials had received reports of residents not hearing the tornado sirens, but they sounded in Adairsville.

Millsap added Adairsville's tornado sirens could be heard sounding on TV news video of the tornado passing over downtown Adairsville.

A maintenance worker Thursday checked Adairsville's tornado sirens, which he said passed all the tests and seemed to functioning properly, according to WSB. 

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