Clinton County will soon be getting an additional outdoor tornado warning siren, thanks to a grant from the Office of Homeland Security.

Lonnie Scott, Director of Emergency Services, announced the grant approval last week, noting Clinton County was fortunate because it is the only county out of a host of applications filed that was approved.

The grant amount is for $20,000 and the new siren will be placed in the Cartwright Community northeast of Albany and also near the former Clinton County Industrial Park.

The old siren that was in that area ceased working automatically–not picking up the radio alert signal–but still works when activated manually. Scott noted that siren, which was placed on a 50 rather than 30 foot pole, was placed at the City of Albany’s water plant where people are on duty and can activate the siren manually when a disaster warning needs to be sent.

The county currently has 12 sirens, all of which are in working order, and Scott said more funding for additional sirens is being applied for through the Hazard Mitigation program and grants for other things will be applied for through the Assistance to Firefighters grant program.

Scott said the latest outdoor warning siren would be installed in a few months, hopefully by next spring, which usually brings the highest threat of severe weather across Kentucky and the region.