DEI HIRE St. Louis Commissioner Sarah Russell is on paid
administrative leave after failing to activate tornado sirens during a deadly
EF-3 tornado on May 16.
The storm, with winds of 150 mph (245 km/h), killed five
people and injured 38, causing $1.6 billion in damage.
Russell and her staff were in an off-site workshop, so no
one was at the CEMA office to activate the alarm.
The Fire Department, the secondary activation point, also
failed due to a faulty button. Mayor Spencer has ordered a general review, and
investigations are ongoing.