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Metro Tornado Warning Siren System Better. Bigger. Broader. Warning Siren History. 1998 – Nashville takes a direct hit, leaving one person dead and millions of dollars worth of damage 2002 - Metro receives HUD Grant funding to construct a 70 site Outdoor Weather Warning System
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Warning Siren History • 1998 – Nashville takes a direct hit, leaving one person dead and millions of dollars worth of damage • 2002 - Metro receives HUD Grant funding to construct a 70 site Outdoor Weather Warning System • 2003 – System operational • 2007/8 – 3 siren sites added in Forrest Hills and Oak Hill bringing the total number to 73
System Upgrade Timeline • 2012 - Mayor Dean submits a FY2013 Capital Improvements request for $2 million • Council approves the request June 2012
System Upgrade Timeline • RFP released July 2012 for upgrade and enhancement of 73 existing and installation of 20 new sirens • Contract is awarded to Federal Signal November 2012
Project Highlights • All equipment will be replaced with new • 20 additional sirens will expand coverage area • Mechanical siren instead of electronic loudspeaker • Lower frequency sound will be easier to hear and will travel farther
New Site Selection • In 2002, Metro received grant funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to build an Outdoor Weather Warning Siren System that specified individual siren locations based on the 2000 census data, and outdoor population expectations. • The 2013 upgrade of the system combines the same methodology and the latest 2010 census data to recommend the new locations, as the system is expanded to cover additional areas of the county.
New Sirens, New Sound Old Siren Federal Eclipse 8 Siren
During the Transition • February 27th – Council Briefing • Last week of February – Siren installation begins with new sites • March 7th – New sirens on-line for activation • April 30th – Estimated Project Completion • From March 7th through Project Completion BOTH Systems will be active and either sound may be heard until the last siren is replaced.
System Testing • When weather permits, the system is tested for one minute at noon on the first Saturday of the month • The system tests itself twice each day and reports any problems to OEM staff • Individual sirens can be tested to verify repairs
Activation and Operation • OEM Operations manages and activates the system • Sirens are controlled via Metro’s 800MHz Radio System • There are two activation points, one at each OEM dispatch center
Activation and Operation • The sirens are only activated for an official Tornado Warning for Davidson County • A tornado warning for any part of the county will result in all sirens being activated • Sirens will sound for 3 minutes out of every 10 during an active warning, i.e. there would be 3 activations during a 30 minute warning period
NOAA Weather Radio • A Tornado Siren is only intended to alert the OUTDOOR population to take shelter and get more information • Everyone is encouraged to have a battery powered NOAA Weather Radio available in their home for the latest information
We Need Your Help To Get The Word Out!! Other Resources Available: • Information kits provided to all Council Members • All information will be posted online at www.oem.nashville.gov • OEM Staff is available for community meetings • Metro 3 video will be available this week on the OEM web page and YouTube • NOAA.gov