Cedartown firefighters worked this morning to install a new tornado siren that will serve the south side of Cedartown.

The siren is the fifth in town, and will serve areas south of the Polk County Board of Education central office, including residences on Georgia Avenue and Canal Street. Fire Chief Sammy Stephens said that there was a need for a siren on that side of town due to the high numbers of children in the area.

“We researched the demographics, and decided that’s where the siren needed to be,” he said. “Our county’s Code RED (severe weather phone alert system) is very effective warning system, but kids could be outside playing in the yard and (siren and Code RED) can both work.”

Funds for the siren were from a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation grant that the City of Cedartown applied for and received in December 2009. The city purchased equipment through Coosa Valley Communications, Georgia Power donated the pole, and crews are expected to have the siren functioning by March 26. Stephens said crews will test the sirens shortly after that.

Other sirens currently serve other corners of the community, including the one atop First National Bank for the north, HON Company to the west, Murphy-Harpst Home to the east, and a central siren at the Cedartown Fire Department.