Is that siren sound "buggin" you?

Recently, we have been receiving an abundance of phone calls about a strange noise coming from our outdoor warning sirens throughout the county. Ironically, the noise became noticeable immediately after our severe weather outbreak a couple of weeks ago. Many feared the system had taken a lightning strike or suffered other damage related to the storms.

While we take each report seriously and forward them to our technicians to be checked, we have figured out what is causing the noise. Cicadas. According to a recent article in The Daily Home, this year’s brew is one of the largest our area has ever encountered. “This is probably the largest brew of 13 year as far as the area they encompass,” said Dr. Charles Ray, an Extension entomologist and research fellow with Auburn University’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “You can have as many as over a million and a half per acre in some areas.”

Experts say this cycle occurs once every 13 years so it will be a while before we hear them again. They are harmless to humans; they don’t bite or sting and only feed on plants. Brews usually last 6 weeks or so before the adults die out. The eggs will hatch and the newborn cicada will drop into the ground where they live for the next 13 years.

Each report related to this has been thoroughly checked out and the siren system is showing no defects and is fully operational. The recent monthly test showed no defects in the system.

Read more: The Daily Home - Cover your ears those noisy cicadas are here