LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Sirens going off in West Little Rock Sunday night gave many an unwanted wake up call.
Around 11:30 Sunday night, a siren that is unfamiliar to Central Arkansans started going off, lasting about 45 minutes.
That siren woke up the Johnson family, including 14-year-old Ethan.
“We thought it was someone’s home alarm. We didn’t know what it was,” said Johnson.
Close to 600 calls came into the 9-1-1 Communications Center asking what was going on.
Laura Martin, 9-1-1 Communications Manager, said the control panel that should have shut the sound off, worked, but came back with another siren 30 seconds later.
“It came back with the nuclear attack siren,” said Martin.
The reason for the sound, Martin said, was a malfunction of the siren.
They believe with a tree so close to the panel, and rain the past few days, the moisture got into the box causing an electrical short.
Workers have been out checking the siren, which sits at the corner of Bradberry and Banfield, and the tree surrounding the box is expected to be cut down Monday night.
To hear what the different siren tones should sound like, click here.