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State of the Siren Warning System

State of the Siren Warning System. Why are we here. Siren funding questions Maintenance of current system How do we pay for it, Who pays for it Opportunity for replacement sirens $100,000 county wide for 30 sirens plus the control system – Do we want it?. Questions for the Workshop.

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State of the Siren Warning System

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  1. State of the Siren Warning System

  2. Why are we here • Siren funding questions • Maintenance of current system • How do we pay for it, Who pays for it • Opportunity for replacement sirens • $100,000 county wide for 30 sirens plus the control system – Do we want it?

  3. Questions for the Workshop • What part do Sirens play in the county warning system? • How much should the County and Cities invest in the sirens? • How do we pay for the sirens? • How do we coordinate the maintenance and repairs to assure operation?

  4. Reverse 911 Delivers a custom message to land lines based on geographic area Can cover the entire county in about 2 hours Does not work geographically with Cell Phones Needs Internet plus Phone systems NoAA Weather Radio Available all over, reliable Needs Phone system EAS (Emergency Broadcast system) Good for getting message to anybody with a radio or tv turned on. Other - Local volunteers and/or police with loudspeakers going Door-to-Door Requires that emergency personnel and volunteers enter the danger zone. E-mail, Twitter, Nixle, Text messaging Require the internet and phone systems to work Tsunami Sirens Good for getting peoples attention Funded by Cities, Fire Departments, County and other local agencies Approximately 11,000 people live in range of a siren Approximately 2700 people live within the inundation zone Approximately 4500 visitors daily are within the inundation zone* * Average over the year – More in summer, Less in Winter ** From 2000 census – Could be Plus 100% Where do Sirens fit into public warning systems

  5. Current Siren Warning system • 31 Tsunami Sirens Sirens By Agency: # sirens Population* • Bay City 2 1,500 • Rockaway Beach 5 2,400 • City of Manzanita 2 800 • City of Garibaldi 2 900 • City of Nehalem 3 1,400 • Tierra del mar Owners Assoc 2 136 • USFS 1 70 • State Parks 1 4 • Twin Rocks Friends Camp 1 470 • Netarts Fire 4 1,000 • County 8 2,400 ----- --------- Total: 31 11,000 • Plus an average 4500 visitors each day in the inundation zone countywide

  6. Two Types of Sirens • Standard Siren • Motorized (110V or 220V) • Radio activated • No Voice capabilities • About a 1 mile range • $5000 new • Electronic siren • Speakers • Radio Activated • Can do voice announcements • Battery powered • About a 1 mile range • Up to $25,000 new

  7. Siren Controllers • Two styles • OLD style – Circa 1960s • Transistors • Mechanical 3 minute timer • Not programmable • Wideband channels only • NEW Style – Modern controller (All controllers need to be updated to this style to meet FCC rules) • Programmable via computer • Non-mechanical – no moving parts • Meets FCC new Narrowband channel rules Note: FCC requires narrowband channels by January 1st, 2013

  8. Examples of current status

  9. Systems in placeSiren Operations • Call to 911 for activation • From Local Emergency Manager • From NoAA via State Warning point • 911 operator “Presses the button” • Primary System if available, Secondary if not • Sheriff has tertiary activation capabilities • County radio relays command to all sirens • Sirens sound 3 minute signal automatically

  10. Systems in placeSiren Maintenance • Owners are responsible for: • Electrical costs • Repairs/Replacement • Reporting on test day • County program is responsible for: • Twice yearly performance testing • County maintains relay radio for activation • County maintains tertiary activation system • County coordinates test reporting • 911 maintains • Primary and secondary activation system • Communications link to State OEM for notification • No agreements exist

  11. Expected performance of the warning systems Near shore earthquake and Tsunami • Likely failure of power, telephone, Internet and transportation systems • Possible failure of 911/county radio system • 20 minutes for notification via NAWAS, NWS, EAS systems (if they work)

  12. Expected performance of the warning systems (cont’d) • Distant earthquake • No shaking felt locally • No infrastructure damage, all systems work • Tsunami Watch issued (20 minutes) • Tsunami Warning issued when wave is verified • Will receive wide Radio/TV coverage • Wave arrival times and height’s predicted

  13. Weaknesses of the current siren system • Funding – • Not all the owners have or are willing to spend the money for maintenance • Funds compete with other needs like Police, Fire trucks, and Parks • Age/Maintenance • Constant maintenance needs • Rust, Age, Updates • Replacement planning

  14. maintenance costs • Electric $200 to 300 /year/Siren • Visual Inspection $ 20 /year/Siren • Electronic Tests $ 40 /year/Siren • Operational Tests $ 240 /year • Test reporting $1200 /year • Repairs • Replace hood $1200 • R&R radio with spare $ 85 • Repair/Replace Cutoff switch $1200 • Replace motor Head $3000 • Replace Relay $1200 • Replace Radio with New $2700

  15. County spending • 06-07 year $ 6,500 • 07-08 year $38,000 • 08-09 year $ 3,000 • 09-10 year $ 3,000 • 10-11 year $ 15,000* • Estimated maintenance is $1000/siren/year * Projected budget amount

  16. Other Impacts • NWS – Tsunami Ready • Sirens are one of the accepted means of warning dissemination. • www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov/guidelines.htm • Need two methods of dissemination– Sirens are ONE of our systems. • Flood Insurance Rating System – • Tsunami damage is considered “Flood” damage and falls under the NFIP • FEMA provides better rates for Tsunami Ready Communities, 30 points.

  17. Options for the Siren System • Eliminate the siren warning and activation system completely. Build public education campaign instead. • County/911 maintain only the activation system, local agencies must support and pay for the sirens. No standards, County/911 only provide the activation signal. • Establish a Fund for siren maintenance and care. Each jurisdiction/district pays a fixed amount per siren per year into the fund, or they are pulled out. The fund takes care of all the sirens. Agreements will be established. Only sirens within the fund are allowed for Tsunami use. • Maintain Current status – Private ownership of sirens. Sirens may be pulled out when private parties or jurisdictions cannot raise funds for maintenance; County/911 maintain activation system; County maintains twice yearly certification testing program. • Improve and expand the system for more coverage and better sirens – Funding unknown.

  18. Questions for the Workshop • What part do Sirens play in the county warning system? • How much should the County and Cities invest in the sirens? • How do we pay for the sirens? • How do we coordinate the maintenance and repairs to assure operation?

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