🚀 go-pugleaf

Chris Novy wrote:
Sirens are a great attention getter but they provide absolutely no
information as to the actual type of threat, onset, or safety instructions.
-----
I disagree.  While they don't give verbal information, they *can* provide an
 indication that a tornado is coming.

I do not activate our sirens unless "tornadic conditions are immediately
 threatening".  I publicize this heavily, particularly during storm season.  And
 I have a lot of people who tell me that if they hear the siren, they know a
 tornado is coming.  My goal is to provide 15 minutes warning.

(I also have a lot who immediately grab a camera, climb on their roof, and get
 ready to shoot the video that's going to bring them fame and fortune...and a
 lot that call 9-1-1 wanting to know if a tornado is REALLY coming...)

Chris also wrote:
Spending new tax dollars to install new sirens (old technology) based on the
 public's new, heightened, perceived risk of tornadoes, is a mistake in my
 opinion.
-----
Warning technology is great.  It allows us to reach more people, and provide
 them with more information, than has ever been possible.  But it does NOT
 replace other systems; rather, it augments them.  In my opinion, warning is an
 additive process.
  (  )% - watching TV, get media warning
           and/or from EOC cable TV interrupt
  (  )% - watching DSS, get warning from
           auto EAS decoders in TV
  (  )% - inside, no radio/TV on, get warning
           from NOAA Weather Radio
  (  )% - outside, get warning from sirens
  ------   -----------------------------------------------
           sum these up and you have the total
           percentage of people warned

The closer to 100% yet get, the better job of warning that you've done.

Unfortunately, there will always be the (  )% who you haven't reached.  These
 will be the ones who either become victims or are interviewed and state "we had
 no warning".

And as noted in my earlier post, you can warn 100% of the people, but you can't
 dictate that they take any action.

I work towards having multiple warning systems, allowing me to reach a high
 percentage of our population with warning information.  I also work towards a
 great amount of public education, hopefully planting the seeds which will spur
 action when the warning comes.


Gayland Kitch       gkitch@ci.moore.ok.us
Director of Emergency Management & Communications
The City of Moore, Oklahoma
http://www.ci.moore.ok.us/emermgt

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