Glitch prompts extension of emergency training in Sultan

Published 12:01 am Thursday, May 5, 2011

SULTAN — People will be hearing sirens for one more day.

The testing and training of the new emergency warning siren has been extended for today between noon and 5 p.m.

Originally, the training was only for two days, but a glitch in the software created a need to extend the practice, city administrator Deborah Knight said.

“It has taken longer than anticipated,” she said.

People should expect to hear different tones of about 10 seconds and pre-recorded emergency messages.

Staff from the Sheriff’s Office, the city of Sultan and the Sultan School District are some of the organizations receiving training to use the $55,000 siren.

The siren, located at Sultan Elementary School, could be used in case of emergencies such as floods, wildfires or the break of the Culmback Dam.

It was paid by a grant from the Snohomish County Department of Emergency management. The city plans to use money from Snohomish County Public Utility District to buy three other sirens within the next year.