Blue Ridge helps restore historic outdoor warning siren in downtown Pickens
Pickens Water Tower
The historic water tower in downtown Pickens. Image provided by the City of Pickens.

Blue Ridge Electric Co-op partnered with the City of Pickens to help restore the historic outdoor warning siren that will notify the community of potential weather emergencies.

In December, the city and Mayor Isaiah Scipio announced the completion of the restoration and reinstallation of the Federal Signal STH10 warning siren on the water tank located behind downtown shops on East Main Street. Instead of being used to alert firefighters to emergencies, as it did decades ago, it will now warn residents of severe weather approaching the city.

“It was a dream come true being able to collaborate and work together on this heartfelt project that’s part of our town,” Scipio said of the partnership.

Co-op Systems Engineer Eric McCollum represented Blue Ridge in the project, helping the city and its partners achieve its goal.

“We were happy to participate in this historic restoration project of our downtown,” McCollum said. “It brings back childhood memories, and hopefully provides the community with a sense of nostalgia.” 

A man poses for a picture
Blue Ridge Electric Co-op Systems Engineer Eric McCollum poses for a picture in front of the water tower.

City of Pickens Fire Chief Chris Elrod said the co-op was able to modernize dated infrastructure. 

“Before this, the siren was controlled from the fire station with a hard line and relays,” he said. “Eric was able to bring a computer in and control it with modern technology. We’ve been working on it for a year now, and Blue Ridge allowing Eric to partner with us is definitely appreciated.” 

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Posted below is the weekly test schedule and other relevant information, courtesy of the City of Pickens: 

To ensure the system remains functional and to preserve this historic signal for the town, the siren will be tested every Saturday at 12:00 p.m. 

  • A brief activation will occur during the weekly test. No action is required from the public during the Saturday noon test. 

  • During installation and system testing, the area around the water tank may be closed at times, and residents may hear the siren outside the normal Saturday test window. These intermittent activations are part of the standard setup and calibration. 

  • Once installation is complete and the siren is fully operational, the City will issue an additional community notification with final details. 

When the siren sounds outside of the Saturday noon test: 

  • Seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building. 

  • Check trusted sources for updates — NOAA Weather Radio, National Weather Service, local media, or official City of Pickens channels. 

  • Follow all official instructions until the threat has passed.