tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7965215084022057128.post929511002700730963..comments2024-03-28T14:54:34.646-05:00Comments on MSE CREATIVE CONSULTING BLOG: More on Selective Tornado Siren ActivationMike Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17435605216805307424noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7965215084022057128.post-8446756775478088522011-05-25T15:40:38.861-05:002011-05-25T15:40:38.861-05:00AccuWeather sells one of my inventions what automa...AccuWeather sells one of my inventions what automatically compares the NWS tornado warning polygon and triggers the sirens in the polygon and adds sirens very near the polygon. <br /><br />It simply says to the EM or dispatcher: Do you wish to active sirens? If yes, the sirens selectively activate. It is no more complicated to the dispatcher than the current system.Mike Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17435605216805307424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7965215084022057128.post-39885749755011557932011-05-25T11:48:21.032-05:002011-05-25T11:48:21.032-05:00BTW, this is not hypothetical for me. A storm is m...BTW, this is not hypothetical for me. A storm is moving north through JoCo right now that has spawned tornadoes and is headed right for me. I know because when my NOAA radio went off, I tuned into local news for detailed updates.The Monsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15291546809967159683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7965215084022057128.post-1405902429732325182011-05-25T11:33:32.403-05:002011-05-25T11:33:32.403-05:00I understand what everyone is saying here and I ag...I understand what everyone is saying here and I agree with the comments. I do think the technology is available to do selective sounding of the sirens. That certainly would cut down on the excuse of "they use the sirens too often and we don't know when it is real or not." Of course that excuse is bs as stated above since once they are sounded one should tune into media to determine what action they need to take. <br />Here in Houston we don't have that problem. We don't have any sirens. I wish we did!!David Van Bergennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7965215084022057128.post-38651159812838872222011-05-25T11:18:17.388-05:002011-05-25T11:18:17.388-05:00If NOAA weather radio can do this with SAME alerts...If NOAA weather radio can do this with SAME alerts, why can't counties and municipalities do this with their own sirens? <br /><br />I work for a company that does software for public safety. We've done multiple interfaces with devices which tone out certain fire departments, reads a message over the loudspeakers at a station, and opens the garage doors so they don't have to. If that kind of thing can be automated, why can't storm sirens?<br /><br />Our city has sounded sirens twice this year when high winds were in the area. I spoke with out police chief about this and he said that the sirens are outdoor warning sirens, not simply tornado sirens. I understand that the government can make this distinction themselves, but the citizenry won't. They hear sirens and they think tornado. When that doesn't come to fruition then the next time they will ignore them.<br /><br />The technology exists to sound sirens based on the warning polygons that are issued by the NWS. It's as simple as saying here is the affected area, is this siren within the area, and if yes, sound it. As with anything, someone to monitor it would be needed as well. <br /><br />The sirens can be another line of support in severe weather, but not if they are overused.Clay W. Ginnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10839537540631120898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7965215084022057128.post-27465673913509695772011-05-25T10:54:16.092-05:002011-05-25T10:54:16.092-05:00Here's the problem with selective activation:
...Here's the problem with selective activation:<br /><br />Turning on all the sirens in Johnson County at once is simple. If any part of the county is in a warning, you push the button and it's done.<br /><br />Doing selective siren activation requires a map of the locations of the sirens and their coverage areas (I live a half mile into Wyandotte Co. and clearly heard their sirens. I knew it wasn't our siren, which is a block from my house and LOUD.) and either software or a human operator making the decision on which sirens are in the affected area and which are not. JoCo has <a href="http://www.jocoem.org/CP/outdoor.shtml" rel="nofollow">177 sirens</a>. The complexity of managing those individually is just too great, so they divide the county into five zones, and give Gardner, Lenexa, Olathe, and Overland Park the ability to turn on their own sirens in addition to the County's own criteria.<br /><br />If you're the government official at either the county or city level who has to decide whether to activate sirens, the incentives are for you to err on the side of false positives. If you fail to sound the alarm in a particular area that is affected, you're toast.<br /><br />The proper response to sirens and NOAA weather radio alerts is neither to ignore them nor to run screaming for your basement. Instead, check the radio for details and make an intelligent decision once you know them.The Monsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15291546809967159683noreply@blogger.com