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There was no warning siren for a twister in Sparta, Missouri, after mayor couldn't get to hand crank

Mayor Jenny Davis says she is the only person tasked with the responsibility of using a hand crank to power the lone warning siren.
Credit: KSDK
Tornado siren

SPARTA, Mo. (AP) — The tornado siren failed to sound when a small tornado reached the area of Sparta, Missouri, because the small-town mayor couldn't get to the hand-crank siren.

KY-TV reports that the tornado tracked into the Sparta area just after 1 a.m. Monday. Winds up to 90 mph damaged homes and downed trees, but no injuries were reported.

Mayor Jenny Davis says she is the only person tasked with the responsibility of using a hand crank to power the lone warning siren in the southwestern Missouri town of 1,900. She tried to get to the crank but a fallen tree blocked her path.

Davis is warning residents to find more reliable sources for severe weather warnings since the cost of replacing the hand-crank siren is $40,000, money Sparta doesn't have available.

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Information from: KYTV-TV, http://www.ky3.com

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