Stay out of Sandwich, IL. As they don't want us there.

[12kvLive]

I went to Sandwich, IL's website to check out siren info. It was pretty informative and friendly. Next test day I wanted to post a trip there to record their sirens. Well the response I got was not so friendly. It was more like get out of our town creeper. Below are the correspondance between the village and I. Form your own opinion.

[12kvLive]

To whom it may concern:

I would like to come to Sandwich to video record your sirens during the test. I do this voluntarily for a web site called www.airraidsirens.com of which I am a member. It also protects the community because as of July I have recorded 5 sirens that have either failed or had some kind of malfunction.
I have seen the map of your siren locations which seem very well laid out. My question to you is do you know what types of sirens you have (make/model)i.e. Federal / 2001, Federal / Thunderbolt, ACA / P-50 and so on...? Can you compile a list as to which sirens are where? I will then decide which to record. When I decide as a courtesy to the community and to protect myself, I will notify you via email. I also notify any and all village law enforcement and fire agencies just before the test of our intetion and location to avoid conflicts with police.
If during the test I record a siren failure your village fire dept. will be notified immediately after the test in person by me. This is so that repairs can be made in a timely fashion and public exposure to risk kept at a minimum. Thank you for your time and effort in this matter.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Krizek

[12kvLive]

I'm quite sorry, but I would not sanction what you suggest, as I don't
understand the purpose or goal of such activities.

Both our police department and our citizens would look upon such goings-on
as rather suspicious, and both of us would be subject to more questions than
I personally would prefer to answer...again, because I don't understand the
purpose, nor could I explain it as being for someone's 'personal use'.

I'm sure that you get identically negative reactions from other
municipalities. No offense intended, merely a sign of the times. The world
has changed.

Good luck in your endeavors and thank you for your interest.
Tom Ciciora--Director
SEMA

[12kvLive]

Dear Tom:

Sorry you feel that way! I actually am a citizen of Sandwich as I rent property there. I have many friends that are aware of my activities with sirens and no one has characterized myself as you have (offense taken). Maybe you can become a member of this site : www.airraidsirens.com and tell everybody how they are creepers for trying to restore and preserve America's historical sirens.
It sure is funny your muni is the ONLY negative response we got. After recording many failures it sure seems to me that many muni's where greatful that someone was aware of a malfunctioning siren and reported it to authorities.
Well don't worry your town is safe from harmless siren fanatics. But a post will be started about this issue and how the village feels about having their sirens watched on test day.
If you don't want the public aware of your sirens or how good or bad your system may be why then do you post so much information about it on your website? I just have to ask because that is what lead me to you and your town. You went so far as to post a map of all your siren sites. If you are nervous about suspisous activities around your sirens why post a map telling everybody not just in Sandwich but the entire world (via the internet) about the Sandwich siren system? Sure sounds like a double standard to me. You (or your town as a whole) wants notariety for having a siren system yet don't want anybody to know anything about it?

[Whelen Rules]

Thats ridiculous. Every emergency manager I've ever email has been glad to give me as much information as he knows. Infact Tullahoma's EMA director has giving me pamplets on tornado safety and what to do if a tornado siren sounds. Tullahoma police captain who activates the sirens invited me up to look at the controls and even let me SI-TEST them. Theres no reason why you shouldn't be able to get info on a siren system.

[scooterbugs25]

Since you are a resident of Sandwich, Why dont you find the siren your self to find what model it is? They did provide a map.

I dont think anyone would have cared for you to record a siren test, as a matter of fact if the siren failed that you were recording, just a simple phone call to the EMA to give them a heads up would be appreciated by most any county official anywhere.

I would record it anyway. Good luck

[Trey]

I smell laziness on the job...
If theres one thing I can't stand its prejudice people.

[Gil]

Doesnt Sandwich sound their sirens everyday at noon?

Maybe i'm thinking of a nearby town...

Never been to sandwich. owul;d go there on test day, as they
would have to sound it then...

[12kvLive]

I have summer property out there and don't care to let EMA know about it because of their attitude towads me. I don't siren hunt on my time off. I'm down there for R&R. If I was going down there for sirens I would go there "for business" but when I'm there to relax well you know.

[12kvLive]

Next town over in Somonauk, IL does the daily test. Lets farmers know it's lunch.