St. Louis to release tornado siren investigation findings
ST. LOUIS – The City of St. Louis is expected to release the findings of an external investigation into the tornado siren failure that occurred when the deadly May 16 storm struck. It comes on the same day the city’s emergency management director, who’s been on paid leave since the tornado, heads to city hall for a disciplinary hearing.
FOX 2 News briefly caught up with CEMA Director Sarah Russell as she left Monday’s hearing at city hall. She and her attorney declined an interview but said they thought the hearing went well and wanted to let the process play out. What that means for the future of her job is still unclear, but as it stands, it seems she’s still employed by the city and still on paid leave.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Aug. 14, Russell detailed how the hearing might play out according to city personnel rules. Following the hearing, she explained that the director of public safety would have 14 days to notify her if she would face no disciplinary action, be disciplined but not dismissed, or simply be dismissed.
She said she’d used the process to discipline employees in the past and found it constructive and effective. But when it comes to her situation, she wrote that she didn’t expect that.
“My experiences tell me that it doesn't matter what I say, it hasn't mattered since the tornado hit, and it didn't matter before that,” Russell said. “It hasn't mattered what I said in meetings, it hasn't mattered what I said in budget hearings, or any other place I have spoken with this leadership.”
Mayor Spencer responded Friday, saying, “That’s an unfortunate post. I hadn’t seen it. But certainly, we’re looking for that external investigation, which is why we engaged in it to begin with, to improve our processes and our response in big disasters. It hasn’t been a forgone conclusion. I can say very earnestly the report was not only looking into the tornado sirens, but we were really trying to understand where some of the processes broke down.”
