Multiple failures of Emporia’s emergency sirens have prompted the city to explore options of replacing the sirens — some of which are more than 40 years old.
The issue was discussed during Wednesday morning’s Emporia City Commission meeting. Representatives of Blue Valley Public Safety Inc., of Grain Valley, Mo., attended the city commission meeting and spoke about options with the sirens.
Emporia Police Chief Gary Smith said many of the city’s 13 emergency sirens have failed multiple tests. Smith said when multiple sirens aren’t functioning, the system is not reliable.
The city already has three newer sirens, Smith said. The coverage range of the newer models, 2001-130 sirens, would allow the city to function on nine sirens instead of 13. With the three newer models already in place, it would only have to buy six. However, it’s still a costly purchase when necessary equipment is added. A cost quotation provided by the company was $170,734.35. This estimate includes five 2001-130 sirens and one MOD3012 siren. The price quote also includes poles, receives, batteries and other digital equipment needed to control and monitor the sirens.
According to a spec sheet, the 2001-130 sirens is a directional rotating siren, has three distinct warning signals and battery operation/battery back-up. The MOD3012 siren has warning signals along with voice communication and voice reproduction. Smith said that siren would be ideal in the location of the city’s Aquatic Center and the soccer fields.
Smith said none of the city’s older existing sirens have battery back-up. If the lights go out on the city, so do the sirens, Smith said. The new sirens are digital as well and can be activated separately. Smith said if there’s a chemical spill in one area of town, that area can be alerted by activating the siren. The sirens also can be used in cold weather.
“Right now when it gets cold it’s hard on them,” Smith said. “Newer ones can run in the cold.”
The expected life of the new sirens is 25 to 30 years.
Newer sirens can be controlled in multiple ways including by computer, by radio or by land line, according to spec sheets. The devices can be monitored by computer as well. A silent test can be performed to see which are working correctly or if they are being tampered with.
Another feature of the sirens is the ability for the public to purchase a unit for their homes that alerts them when the sirens are going off.
“It’s a true opportunity to partner with people in the community,” Smith said.
City Manager Matt Zimmerman indicated to the commission that the sirens are on the 2011 Capital Improvement Plan, but city staff thought the issue should be discussed due to the age of the current system and the failures the system has experienced. The commission decided to do a detailed accounting of the current system to decide whether or not to rearrange the priorities on the CIP and bring the sirens forward on the list.
“Emporia’s system is unreliable,” a company representative said. “Right now it’s basically being held together with bailing wire.”
jmb232 (anonymous) says...
There is no question that these sirens are needed. No one needs to be reminded what happened at Greensburg. If these are being put on the back burner due to cost the question to ask is, just what are our citizens live's worth? jb
October 9, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
The city wasted money on the fancy courthouse, clock tower and such frivolous projects. Now when they really need something important they say they don't have the money. Go figure. It's not like it's a big shock that the sirens are old and need replaced, they didn't get that way overnight. I think Smith is really pushing to get this done to protect the city.
October 9, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
A silent test? Does this mean we wont hear the wensday at 10 am test anymore if we get the new sirens? I like the ability to buy one for home so we can hear when the sirens go off, I know some folks who always have trouble hearing them and one person just plain has trouble hearing so something inside the house would work better. It's great that the city is taking this issue seriously.
October 9, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I'd still invest in a weather radio, barefootin. We won one from KVOE but were going to buy one since we live out in the country. You can set them to only go off for certain warnings.
October 10, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )