Johnson County installs first outdoor warning siren

The Paintsville- Johnson County Emergency Management team installed the county's first outdoor warning siren on Friday outside the Paintsville Fire Department.

The new siren comes five years after a tornado ripped through the area, killing two teenage boys in a community outside Paintsville.

Emergency Management Director Gary McClure told WYMT this is just one way the emergency management team can ensure the safety of Johnson County residents.

“That's our main job in emergency management, planning for disasters and of course our first goal is life safety,” McClure said.

McClure said the purchase and installation of the siren cost roughly $17,000 total and was funded through a grant.

He said the county has received confirmation that they will install two more warning sirens within the next six months.