No Tornado Sirens In Western Springs During Warning: Official

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — No sirens went off in Western Springs, La Grange, La Grange Park and Countryside during the recent tornado warning, an official says.

At this week's La Grange Village Board meeting, President Mark Kuchler reported that area 911 dispatchers did not sound the sirens on the night of June 20, despite the warning for the western suburbs. Some towns, including Naperville, Darien and Woodridge, suffered tornado damage.

Dispatch services for Western Springs and the three other towns are handled by the Lyons Township Area Communications Center, or LTACC.

"LTACC did not activate the warning sirens during that event. That did cause concern among our residents and the residents of neighboring villages," Kuchler said. "As a result of that failure, La Grange is actively involved, along with the other communities, in reviewing LTACC policies and procedures to ensure best practices."

In the future, he said, the agency would activate the sirens when a tornado warning is issued.

"We appreciate LTACC and all the dispatchers' efforts. They do a fantastic job day in, day out and will continue to do so," Kuchler said.

Recently, some Darien residents contended that the city did not sound its sirens. Darien officials, however, said they were activated.