🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4km2s0$q74@alpha.sky.net>, wo0e@sky.net (Bill Lefler) says:
>
>Good day all, 
>        I have had a quiet week and thought perhaps it was time to stir 
>the pot a bit... :-) :-)
>        Ron Clark of Bellvue NE (forgive me if I got the town wrong Ron, 
>short term memory loss...:-) mentioned a town of 90,000 in Iowa 
>disconnecting their outdoor sirens, rather than repair/repace them. I 
>have had this discussion with the Emergency Manager here in KC KS and we 
>have both argued either side at one time or another. 
>        My question is simply this: Have the outdoor warning sirens out 
>lived their usefullness? I have been at the EOC when the sirens have been 
>blown, and the first thing that takes place is EVERY phone line lights 
>up, and the question asked over and over is "How come the sirens are 
>blowing?". So, It would seem people are not yet utilizing the many other 
>methods of receiving weather warnings. Thus, it would seem to me there is 
>still a need of some type of outdoor warning. The flip side of this 
>argument is, will people *ever* avail themselves of the new technology if 
>the old remains in place? Should we just move the responsiblities of 
>warning the public away from the local EM office and shift it to the 
>media and other sources? I have mixed feelings about this. I do see a 
>place for warning sirens in and around large public areas (large parks, 
>shopping districts, schools, etc) however, I think it is time to reduce 
>the numbers in the residential areas. The time when local municipalities 
>can afford to maintain a fleet of warning sirens is rapidly fading. Tax 
>payers simply don't see the need to spend money on this type of expense 
>(untill the tornado comes down *THEIR* street!). 
>        Well, enough from me. What are your thoughts on this matter???
>BCNU Lef (Bill Lefler/WO0E Kansas City KS)
>
 Bill, In a place like Iowa or Kansas or anywere else in "tornado alley" I think you need every kind of warning. 
T.V. sirens, flares, whatever.As I'm sure you know tornadao's are a very
serious thing out there, and warnings should not be legislated by the 
lay public,or the supposed lack of funds. Pamphlets, Public service 
announcements,billboards,and schools should be used to educate the public.
Warning sirens to my knowledge are very loud and you shouldn't need
all that many.So price should not be an issue.
   As far as the new technologies are concerned treat a weather radio
like a smoke detector and maybe you'll get more response.Up here in Buffalo 
we have all kinds of programs to hand out smoke detectors, change batteries
Etc. You could do the same with weather radios.
     
    John Carnevale
 Student Meteorologist- Paramedic