New Tornado Siren = Increased Warning

We had the pleasure to see the new siren from Operation Paul Revere earlier.
— Kendallville MYAC (@kvillemyac) May 15, 2014

New Tornado Siren
Picture taken by MYAC Member Zion Moulder
5/16/2014

Last week, shortly before our last meeting, MYAC members took a short drive down main street to see the outdoor siren MYAC, along with the Kendallville Fire Department, had worked so hard to save up for last year with Operation Paul Revere.

The new outdoor warning siren has a battery backup which means that, in the event of a power outage, the siren will still be able to sound. Outdoor warning sirens are typically sounded during the event of severe weather, however they can also sound for other reasons too, such as during the event of a civil emergency.

Google Maps Satellite Image of New Siren Location 

The siren is situated next to the intersection of East Waits Road and Main Street. This means that the residences of mobile home parks nearby should be able to hear the siren loud and clear. It is very important for citizens to acknowledge that, even if you can hear the sirens indoors, you should not depend on them to warn you in the event of severe weather. Emergency Managers and the Federal Government highly advise all citizens in tornado-prone areas buy NOAA Weather Radios which can be found for about $30.00.

The old siren is to be reused in locations of our community which don't have good siren coverage after the Fire Department determines it is still functional. To the left is a view of the old siren according to Google Street View.

Given Kendallville's growth since Operation Paul Revere's initial launch, the Fire Chief says Kendallville needs five more sirens, as opposed to the original seven. These sirens can cost up to $28,000.00 each!

Outdoor warning sirens are an important safety measure for keeping people warned during severe weather, even with the modern technology we have today. Let's keep warning our communities for generations to come!

-Zion Moulder
MYAC Historian and Secretary

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Internet ‘awesome’ but dangers lurk

The Internet has been around for quite some time. Depending on your definition, some might say it’s been around since the 1960s.
However, the Internet we’ve come to know and love (or hate) really didn’t come together until the mid to late 1990s, and early 2000s. As technologies advanced, the Internet’s potential skyrocketed. It wasn’t long until the introduction of social media began to attract teenagers.

With social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Tumblr practically dominating teenagers’ lives these days, it probably doesn’t surprise anyone that, according to iKeepSafe.org, teenagers spend up to 44.5 hours a week in front of some sort of screen.

Whilst there is no scientific evidence backing parents’ paranoia that prolonged electronic use could lead to temporary or permanent eye damage, the prolonged inactivity, and the lack of social skills that can result from being online far too often (as opposed to going out with friends or to social activities), can have bad consequences for a person’s mental and bodily health. According to a University of Michigan study, prolonged online activity on our favorite social media websites like Facebook can cause a lower sense of well being, and feelings of depression.

Whilst the Internet is a pretty awesome place — practically a knowledge goldmine — teenagers, and pretty much any age group, need to limit their use of the Internet. Not only can being online too often cause depression and a lower sense of well being, but it can also lead to erratic sleeping cycles. The light from computer monitors, cellphones, televisions, etc. suppresses the sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin.

Electronics also induce a false sense of awareness. Whilst our bodies might be handling the effects of prolonged use of electronics today, excessive use of electronics and the Internet can lead to long-term health issues including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and insomnia.
The Internet might be fun, but it’s not worth it when you have to take five pills a day at 35 because of some bad lifestyle choices in your youth. An active lifestyle will decrease the probability of health issues as you age, and a social lifestyle will increase your probability of success in the real world where charisma and people-skills are so desperately needed.

-Zion Moulder, MYAC Historian and Secretary

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NEWS SUN, FEBRUARY, 2014

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