(Washington D.C.)  U.S. Congressman Sam Graves announced that he has secured $175,000 in federal funding for the City of Maryville. The funding will be used for a five siren emergency warning system. Sirens will be placed strategically placed to warn all Maryville residents in the event of severe weather, or other emergencies.

“In Northwest Missouri, we are no stranger to severe weather,” said Graves. “This funding will give a head start to Maryville residents when severe weather threatens.”

Four of the existing sirens will be replaced, as well as one siren to be located at Mozingo Lake. The new sirens will be multi-directional, doubling the current sound projection radius. The current warning system in place for the residents of the community is made up of five Civil Defense Sirens, which are extremely old and deteriorated. The city has also grown in size, which has created some “dead spots” where citizens cannot hear the warning sirens.

“I’m glad that Sam Graves is working for Maryville,” said Keith Wood, the Director of Public Safety. “This is an important project for our community that will make sure everyone is alerted during an emergency.”

The funding was included in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill that passed the House last week. It is expected to pass the Senate as soon as this week and will then be sent to the President for his signature.

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