Gordon County Emergency Management often receives questions about why Gordon County does not have tornado sirens. The answer is rooted in technology, coverage, and efficiency.
Gordon County discontinued the use of weather sirens in 2008, moving away from a system that was limited, costly, and outdated. At that time, the county had only 20 sirens, but to adequately cover all of Gordon County’s population and geography, it would have required approximately 140 sirens. Not only was this cost-prohibitive in terms of installation and maintenance, but sirens also rely on manual activation and are designed only to be heard outdoors—not ideal for alerting people indoors or at night.
“Instead of a siren system, Gordon County implemented a modern emergency notification system that is more reliable and far-reaching. Residents can sign up to receive voice calls, text messages, or emails directly to their phones or other smart devices. This system allows for faster, broader, and more accurate alerts, helping to keep you and your family safe during severe weather and other emergencies.” stated EMA Director Courtney Taylor.
To sign up for emergency notifications, please visit www.GordonCountyGa.gov and click on Sign up for Emergency Notifications or go directly to https://signup.hyper-reach.com/hyper_reach/sign_up_page_2/?id=82822
Gordon County Emergency Management strongly encourages every household to:
- Purchase a NOAA weather radio for indoor alerts, especially overnight.
- Sign up for other emergency alert systems such as ialert.com and click on the icon for individual (free account)
- Download multiple weather apps on your smartphones or tablets to ensure you’re informed from more than one source. Some that we personally use include:
- WSBTV Weather App
- Accuweather
- ClimeRadar.com
By using a combination of digital notifications, weather radios, and trusted weather apps, residents of Gordon County can stay informed and safe—without relying on sirens designed for a different era.
