LEADVILLE, Colo. -- The sound of deafening warning sirens went off at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening in the town of Leadville.

Federal officials made sure residents of the Village of East Fork were aware of the test as there is increasing concern a nearby mine drainage tunnel will burst. If that happens, officials said a billion gallons of toxic water would flood the community and countless others downstream.

Some said the alarm, accompanied with the message "seek higher ground and use escape roads" were sufficient. Others said it wasn't enough.

"I think it’s too quiet," said Domenic Mascarenes.

Many who live in the Village of East Fork are particularly worried the tunnel will burst in the middle of the night and the sirens will fail.

"Each night my kids and I, family members that live here can’t sleep cause we don’t even know if it’s going to go off in the middle of the night or when it’s going to go off," said Theresa Velasquez.

Officials hoped the sirens and subsequent emergency evacuation meeting would alleviate mounting concerns.

But for those who live near the sleeping giant: "I won’t feel safe until the problem is fixed," said Diana Holte.

The Environmental Protection Agency has secured the $1.5 million needed to install a well and pump in the tunnel to ease the 200-foot deep groundwater buildup but work is still six weeks away.