The Community Outdoor Warning System (COWS) utilized by Bowling Green
and Warren County is manufactured by
Federal Signal Warning Systems and consists of 26 outdoor warning
sirens placed throughout the city and county.
The Bowling Green/Warren County Emergency Management Agency maintains
25 of the 26 locations with #26 privately owned by Western Kentucky University.
The Outdoor Warning System was installed and operational only two weeks
prior to the hail storm and tornado outbreak in April of 1998.
The sirens are activated by the 911 Communications Center or the EMA Office
during Tornado Warnings issued by the National Weather Service out of
Louisville, KY. The sirens can be activated for any reason deemed necessary
by the Emergency Management Director. This includes civil emergencies,
acts of terrorism, chemical spills, etc.
The sirens are designed for outdoor warning purposes only, citizens are
encouraged to purchase low-cost NOAA weather radios available at any electronics
retailer.
Every effort is being made to acquire funding to expand the outdoor warning
system to allow better coverage of all of Bowling Green and Warren County.
The cost of each unit runs $15,000 - $20,000.
The sirens are tested audibly two times a year. During Severe Storms Month
in March and Earthquake Preparedness Month in October.
Yearlong maintance is performed on the sirens to ensure they are in working
order. |
Map
of COWS locations
Map displaying range of each Outdoor Warning Siren |
