The Cherokee Nation gave the town of Gore a $20,000 donation this week to pay for a new outdoor warning siren, which can be activated from a cell phone and will alert residents to a variety of ongoing emergency situations.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker, Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr., Tribal Councilor David Thornton, Sr., and Cherokee Nation Businesses board member Dan Carter visited Gore Tuesday to present the donation.
They also viewed and heard one of the town’s existing sirens.
“In Oklahoma, we are in the heart of tornado alley, so we must do everything we can to keep families safe and secure. These sirens will offer important advance warnings, which can mean the difference between life and death during a dangerous storm,” Baker said. “This investment in Sequoyah County reflects Cherokee Nation’s continued commitment to build working collaborations with county and city governments within our 14 counties. It is one of the ways Cherokee Nation ensures northeast Oklahoma keeps moving forward.”
While the new siren will be used for severe weather alerts, Gore Town Administrator Horace Lindley said a unique function of the equipment is its voice-over technology.
“A siren won’t necessarily do any good for some events, like a train wreck, a large fire or a chemical spill,” Lindley said. “On this system, we can get on and actually talk to people to give them specific warnings and information. We have three existing sirens, and the donation from Cherokee Nation will give us a fourth.”
Gore Mayor Ryan Callison said the outdoor warning system will keep residents safer during emergency situations.
“These types of assistance go a long way in our community. The Cherokee Nation funds push us to the edge of getting things done where we might not have had the money to achieve them otherwise,” Callison said. “We’re grateful for this donation.”
While the siren is being installed in Gore, Lindley said residents of neighboring communities have also reported hearing the existing sirens. Town leaders expect the new warning siren to be installed within a month.
“I really appreciate the city of Gore and its leaders and want to help them in any way I can,” Councilor Thornton said. “It makes me feel good to see the Cherokee Nation support our communities. With this new siren, residents of Gore and other nearby communities can feel safer during severe weather or other emergencies that could arise. This could save both lives and property.”
The tribe used its special projects fund for the donation. Projects funded through the special projects fund are selected by Tribal Council and Chief Baker’s office and allow the tribe to partner with communities and organizations on projects that benefit Cherokee Nation citizens and non-Cherokees alike.
