{"id":2438389,"date":"2025-05-23T12:15:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T16:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/st-louis-official-on-leave-after-failure-to-sound-alarm-during-tornadoes\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T12:16:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T16:16:31","slug":"st-louis-official-on-leave-after-failure-to-sound-alarm-during-tornadoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/st-louis-official-on-leave-after-failure-to-sound-alarm-during-tornadoes\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Louis official on leave after failure to sound alarm during tornadoes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fst-louis-official-on-leave-after-failure-to-sound-alarm-during-tornadoes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2438389&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sarah Russell, the commissioner of the St. Louis City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), has been placed on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blm-activist-working-at-library-fired-after-allegedly-burning-library-books-by-trump-coulter-now-hes-claiming-racial-discrimination\/\" title=\"BLM Activi... Working At Library Fired After Allegedly Burning Library Books By Trump, Coulter. Now He\u2019s Claiming Racial Discrimination.\">paid administrative leave<\/a> following her failure to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maui-emergency-official-defends-not-sounding-islands-80-warning-sirens-as-fire-engulfed-island-amid-death-toll-reaching-111\/\" title=\"Maui emergency official ju...ifies not activating 80 ...s during island fire, death toll now at 111.\">activate warning sirens<\/a> during tornadoes that resulted in five fatalities. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ed-henry-sues-fox-news-ceo-alleging-cover-up-of-sexual-misconduct\/\" title=\"Ed Henry Sues Fox News CEO, Alleging Cover-Up Of Sexual Misconduct\">external investigation<\/a> is underway to assess the handling of the situation, which Mayor Cara Spencer indicated involved multiple serious issues within the agency.Capt. John Walk has been appointed as the interim director while protocols for siren activation have been shifted to the fire department.<\/p>\n<p>Investigations revealed that the CEMA staff, who were training during the tornado outbreak, failed to press the alarm due to a breakdown in communication. Mayor Spencer highlighted accountability and the need for effective <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-has-signed-40-executive-orders-and-actions-since-taking-office\/\" title=\"Biden has signed 40 executive orders and actions since taking office\">emergency management<\/a>, noting that the siren system has been problematic, with assurance given that a $3.9 million upgrade is planned for the outdated equipment. Simultaneously occurring, Senator Josh Hawley has called for federal assistance to support the damaged community, which has suffered over $1 billion in property damage.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">St. Louis emergency official on leave after failure to sound alarm during fatal tornadoes<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2042452\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The commissioner of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/st-louis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"St. Louis\">St. Louis<\/a> City Emergency Management Agency, Sarah Russell, has been placed on paid administrative leave after failing to sound the warning siren during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/weather\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"tornados\">tornadoes<\/a> last Friday that killed five people.<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Cara Spencer reported that there is now an active external investigation regarding the team&rsquo;s failure to press the city&rsquo;s alarm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3420455\/trump-south-africa-photos-misidentified-congo-ramaphosa\/\">Trump misidentified images from the Congo as farmer victims during meeting with Ramaphosa<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3420510\/scott-bessent-apple-tariff-threat-trump-precision-manufacturing\/\">Trump&#8217;s tariff threat to Apple is about bringing back &#8216;precision manufacturing&#8217;: Bessent<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3420466\/trump-transcripts-removed-white-house-website\/\">Trump transcripts removed from White House website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Capt. John Walk was named by Spencer as interim director of CEMA in the wake of Russell&rsquo;s absence. The siren activation protocol was immediately changed, so the fire department is in charge of sounding the alarm now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stlouis-mo.gov\/government\/departments\/mayor\/news\/mayor-cara-spencer-places-cema-commissioner-on-leave-releases-documents-and-audio-regarding-siren-failure.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">according to<\/a> the mayor&rsquo;s office. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >initial internal investigation proved<\/a> there were &ldquo;not just one serious issue, but multiple,&rdquo; within CEMA, according to the statement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Within minutes, a massive weather hit the ground and was decimating our neighborhoods,&rdquo; Spencer said at a press conference on Saturday. &ldquo;In those minutes, between the warning and the time we were experiencing a massive weather event, there was a failure.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The statement said that while the department knew about the storms ahead, the staff were all at a training and not at the location of the alarm-sounding button. After Russell contacted the fire department for assistance in sounding the alarm, Spencer said there was a &ldquo;breakdown in communication,&rdquo; mentioning that St. Louisans&rsquo; safety depended on the speedy notification about impending danger.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the released audio of the phone call between the fire department and Russell, they can be heard debating the time the warning would be over, Russell relenting that she could be wrong about the severity of the situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was not exceptionally clear about whose roles or responsibilities were to do what,&rdquo; Spencer said at the press conference.<\/p>\n<p>Spencer said that, while she is thankful for Russell&rsquo;s years of service, she needs to provide the best emergency management responsibility.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Commissioner Russell has served our City for years and is a person of good will, but I cannot move on from this without providing accountability and ensuring that our emergency management is in trusted hands,&rdquo; Spencer said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The mayor revealed Wednesday that the button from the fire department was not working properly at the time of the storm. It was also proven during a test that same day that not all sirens in the St. Louis area sound properly, according to local paper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksdk.com\/article\/news\/local\/cema-director-sarah-russell-put-on-leave-after-tornado-sirens\/63-d6d5fcb3-571f-4fa3-90b3-a404f0602a63\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">KSDK<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3417433\/josh-hawley-fema-coverage-demand-st-louis-tornado\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"JOSH HAWLEY DEMANDS LARGE-SCALE FEMA COVERAGE FOLLOWING DEADLY ST. LOUIS TORNADO\">JOSH HAWLEY DEMANDS LARGE-SCALE FEMA COVERAGE FOLLOWING DEADLY ST. LOUIS TORNADO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-hawley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Josh Hawley\">Josh Hawley<\/a> (R-MO) called for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist the affected community after he visited the area Monday. Hawley, who previously has voted against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fema\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"FEMA\">FEMA<\/a> aid provisions for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hurricane\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Hurricanes\">Hurricanes<\/a> Milton and Helene, made his requests several times on the internet and during a Senate hearing. It is estimated by the St. Louis city assessor&rsquo;s office that the over 5,000 buildings that sustained damage reached at least $1 billion in property damage, to which Hawley expressed the need for insurers to pay &ldquo;in full.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>According to a fact sheet released by Spencer, St. Louis CEMA is to sound the sirens in cases of tornado warning for the city of St. Louis, a tier three &ldquo;destructive&rdquo; thunderstorm warning, for any portion of the city, or by order of the CEMA commissioner for other imminent threats. The day before the storm, CEMA had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stlouis-mo.gov\/government\/departments\/public-safety\/emergency-management\/news\/outdoor-warning-siren-audible-testing-may-2025.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">announced<\/a> they would be replacing the siren system, which was last replaced in 1999, with an allocated budget of $3.9 million.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2042452\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2042452\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>St. Louis emergency chief on leave for not sounding tornado alarm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3821,"featured_media":2438390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/STL-Tornado-button.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[35224,5045,35975,38608,8955],"class_list":["post-2438389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-emergency-response","tag-government","tag-public-safety","tag-st-louis","tag-tornadoes"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/STL-Tornado-button.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3821"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2438389"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2438393,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438389\/revisions\/2438393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2438390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2438389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2438389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2438389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}