St. Louis Tornado Siren FAIL: Commissioner on Leave After Deadly Storm!

A devastating tornado tore through St. Louis, claiming lives and leaving a trail of destruction. But what makes this tragedy even more shocking? The city's tornado sirens failed to sound, leaving residents unprepared for the impending danger.

In the wake of this catastrophic event, Sarah Russell, Commissioner of the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), has been placed on paid administrative leave. Mayor Cara Spencer announced the decision, stating that an external investigation will determine exactly what went wrong. An internal investigation was launched immediately after the sirens' failure, which occurred during a National Weather Service tornado warning between 2:30 and 2:50 p.m. local time.

The storm caused widespread devastation, affecting an estimated 5,000 people and resulting in five fatalities. Mayor Spencer described the storm as "one of the worst...absolutely."

St. Louis boasts a system of 60 outdoor sirens, designed to activate automatically upon a tornado warning. The activation points are CEMA's office and the Fire Department. The mayor's office revealed that Commissioner Russell was attending an offsite workshop when the warning was issued, preventing immediate siren activation from CEMA. She contacted the Fire Department, but the communication was unclear. A recording of the call reveals ambiguity, with the Fire Department acknowledging the warning, but not explicitly confirming siren activation.

Adding to the shock, city officials later discovered the activation button at the Fire Department was malfunctioning! Repairs are underway. The button at CEMA's office is functional, and to prevent future failures, the Fire Department will now be solely responsible for siren activation, with personnel stationed 24/7 at CEMA.

St. Louis Fire Captain John Walk is serving as interim emergency management commissioner while a permanent replacement for Russell is sought. This tragedy highlights critical failures in the city's emergency response system, raising questions about accountability and preparedness.

Stay informed and share this story to help ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.

By Emily Mae Czachor, News Editor, CBS News

Emily Mae Czachor is a news editor at CBSNews.com. She typically covers breaking news, extreme weather and issues involving social and criminal justice. Emily Mae previously wrote for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.

Labels: St. Louis, Tornado, Siren Failure, Emergency Management, Deadly Storm, Missouri, Weather, News, Investigation, Commissioner

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