EMA Director Reports Siren Failure During Tornado, $7,500 Grant Spending in Blackford County

From the Blackford County Commissioner meeting on August 3, 2026

EMA Director Jason provided several emergency management updates to the commissioners.

During a recent tornado event, at least one county tornado siren failed to activate. A siren at a local facility that is tied to the county system has been problematic for months. Jason said he is coordinating with the sheriff's office on a regular Friday testing schedule.

Jason also detailed spending from a $7,500 AEP grant: approximately $3,000 for a tablet for the EMA vehicle, $400 for a truck mount, $900 for replacement radio batteries at $105 each after four of the existing batteries were found to be bad or degraded — leaving only four radios currently working — and a printer at a cost yet to be determined. About $4,300 of the $7,500 has been allocated so far.

The county's Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan is nearing completion but is currently about $4,000 short of its in-kind match requirement. Jason is requesting timesheets from department heads to document hours spent in planning discussions.

The next LEPC meeting is scheduled for August 26 at 11 a.m. at the Montpelier Police Department, with a hazmat spill exercise planned for around October 27 at no cost to the LEPC.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Commissioner Meeting, August 3, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.