Thu May 09, 2024 10:51 pm
I've had one run in with missing a test that I can remember-
White County, Georgia, sometime in summer during 2023. I decided to hit up the 2001-130 at the Cleveland Woodmen of the World City Park, as it had a good recording angle and if it failed, I would hear a sick ambiance. Arrive there at around 10:50 AM, and wait. And wait, and wait. Finally decided to call the EMA and see what they were up to. Ask the lady on the phone if the sirens are going off today, and she says, and I quote, "Oh sorry, they don't go off until next week." I tell her thank you and goodbye. Next week, thunderstorms. No test. Decided to hit up the county next month, right? So I arrive there on the 2nd Wednesday of that month whilst planning to meet with another enthusiast (Alyx Taylor). Just before I reached Cleveland city limits, Alyx texts me that the EMA has confirmed that they go off on the first Wednesday of the month, completely contrary to what they told me the month prior.
Boy, was I MAD.
Not only had I just wasted a good portion of my time driving there, I now had to go back home completely empty handed. "Damnit!" I thought. I proceeded to go throughout that entire summer without one good in-the-wild siren test.
Now proceed to the future, March 2024, first Wednesday of the month. My cousin is eating at a restaurant in the resort town of Helen, about thirty minutes north of Cleveland. She proceeds to call me at noon, yelling, "The sirens are going off in Helen!" I promptly told her to get a recording, and she did. After 8~ months of struggle, I finally had an answer as to when the heck this place tested.
I'm getting a recording next month. Praying the sirens don't fail.
High Hoods!
Lord knows I can't change
Lord, help me, I can't change
Lord, I can't change
Won't you fly high, free bird, yeah