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12 New Sirens Now Active Across Columbia as Emergency Alert System Goes Live

Issue #729

May 15, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌥️ Columbia’s Saturday Weather - Cloudy w/ high of 86, low of 60

📰 12 New Sirens Now Active Across Columbia as Emergency Alert System Goes Live

📰 Maury County Property Reevaluation Notices Are Going Out - Here’s What to Do

🗓 List of Upcoming Events 👉 Lots of Garage Sales Added!

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

✨ Read This Week’s Local Spotlight 👉 For Women with Nowhere Left to Turn: How This Columbia Organization Is Changing Lives across Middle Tennessee

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

12 New Sirens Now Active Across Columbia as Emergency Alert System Goes Live

The City of Columbia has completed the installation and testing of its new citywide public safety siren system, marking a significant investment in resident safety and emergency preparedness. The sirens were successfully tested on Monday, May 11, 2026.

Funded through a $420,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Imminent Threat Program and completed in partnership with the South Central Tennessee Development District, the new system is designed to strengthen how residents are alerted during severe weather and other widespread emergencies.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder said the project reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to protecting the community. “Investing in public safety remains one of our highest priorities,” said Molder. “This new siren system strengthens our ability to quickly alert residents and provide critical information when it matters most.”

The system includes 12 strategically placed sirens throughout Columbia. Three electric sirens feature both audible tones and voice capabilities, while nine mechanical sirens are designed to deliver strong, far-reaching warning signals. Together, they create a reliable, layered outdoor alerting system to provide timely warnings across the city. The sirens are activated only when a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service, meaning a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, and only for the specific areas of the city where the threat has been identified.

City Manager Tony Massey noted that the system builds on the City’s strong foundation of public safety. “This investment reflects our continued commitment to public safety,” said Massey. “By implementing a modern, reliable alert system, we are enhancing our ability to deliver timely warnings and help protect our residents during emergencies.”

To ensure coverage across the city, sirens have been installed at key locations, including fire stations, parks, utility facilities, and elevated areas:

• Columbia Fire Station No. 3 — 705 Firefighter Drive
• Columbia Fire Station No. 4 — 5040 Trotwood Avenue
• Columbia Fire Station No. 5 — 2633 Nashville Highway
• Fairview Park — 837 Iron Bridge Road
• Ridley Park — 6148 Trotwood Avenue
• Reservoir Hill — near 501 Reservoir Hill Road
• East Pump Station — 1639 Bear Creek Pike
• West Pump Station — 2161 Williamsport Pike
• Wastewater Treatment Plant — 1244 Treatment Plant Road
• Golston Hill — near 2550 Pillow Drive
• East Burt — near 1524 E. Burt Drive
• Honey Farms — near 2201 Drone Way

Future testing dates and times will be announced in advance on the City of Columbia’s website, www.ColumbiaTN.gov, and official City social media channels.

It is important for all citizens to be aware that outdoor warning sirens are designed to alert individuals who are outdoors to imminent danger and may not always be heard indoors, particularly during severe weather when environmental conditions can affect sound travel. For this reason, residents are strongly encouraged to use multiple alerting methods, such as weather radios, mobile alerts, and local media, to ensure they receive timely warnings regardless of their location.

The City of Columbia also offers a free emergency alert system called Hyper-Reach, available to all residents within city limits. This system provides notifications for severe weather and other emergencies. It is integrated with the National Weather Service and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), ensuring that alerts are delivered directly to your mobile device or landline.

Residents are encouraged to sign up today by calling or texting “Alert” to 931-286-7771, or by registering online here.

Maury County Property Reevaluation Notices Are Going Out - Here’s What to Do

From Maury County Mayor Shelia Butt’s post today…

Every four years, there is a reevaluation of property in Maury County and this is our reevaluation year.

The County Assessor of Property, Bobby Daniels, reported to the County Commission last night that reevaluation notices were going out this week. If you are a property owner, you should receive your COUNTY NOTICE in the next few days.

Look closely at the notice and the updated value on the notice of your property. The first question should be: Is this what my property is really worth?

I would advise that you look up other property values in your area if it doesn’t look right to you. You may use Zillow, AI, or other resources to ask for  2025 sales in the area of your address. That will give you a pretty fair assessment of your value.

If you still believe it is an unfair evaluation, please call 931-375-4001 or email the Tax Assessor’s Office at [email protected] and request an informal review no later than May 27th. There are 56,000 parcels to assess, and your property may have some issues that would justify a change in value that were not identified.

If following that review, you still believe your property is either overvalued or undervalued, you will need to file a formal appeal.

These three sectors have had the highest increase in value over the last four years:

1. Commercial Property
2. Double wide and Mobile Homes
3. Land

Please take these steps, and feel free to call or email the Tax Assessor’s Office in the next few days.

These reevaluations do not increase the Property Tax coffers. The State sets a Certified Tax Rate to offset the higher value of the property. Our current tax rate in Maury County is $1.91 and following this reevaluation, if we accept the Certified Tax Rate our new tax rate will be $1.3690. 

I hope you will snapshot or copy and paste this post to your notes to refer back to when you receive your notice. And please share! 

Bobby Daniels, Property Assessor
[email protected]
6 Public Square
Columbia, TN 38401
Phone: 931-375-4001

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, May 15th

Saturday, May 16th

Sunday, May 17th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, May 15
Joey Sykes - The Spot Burgers & Beers, 5–8 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
The Bird & The Bear - Buck & Board, 6–8 PM
Blue Velvet Jazz - American Barrel, 6–9 PM
Don McKinnon - Grinder’s Switch, 7–9 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Kenny & Bob Acoustic Duo - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Troy Castellano - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Glitz and Glory - Boondox, 8:00 PM
Black Hole Sons - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, May 16
Grasskickers - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
JanaRose & The DeadEnds - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
Stevierock Acoustic Duo - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Chris Fox - Twisted Copper, 7–8:30 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Melanie Dyer - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Down South Band - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM
Chris Loggins - Twisted Copper, 8:30–10 PM

Sunday, May 17
The Cliftones - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM
Todd Ciprian - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 2–5 PM
Maury County Community Band & Merchants of Cool - Ridley 4-H Center, 2 PM

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