Pelham, AL phases out most of it's siren system

[freebrickproductions]

http://www.pelhamreporter.com/2014/03/0 ... ng-sirens/

PELHAM—After 30 years, Pelham has started to phase out its system of tornado warning sirens. The system, originating in the 1980s, has become outdated by smart phone technology and weather radios, according to city officials.

“It’s a great system for what it is designed to do, but now it is old technology,” said Pelham Deputy Police Chief Larry Palmer, who until recently had cared for the system since 2008.

Both Pelham Mayor Gary Waters and Palmer encourage residents to turn to smart phone applications and weather radios for tornado warnings, as they deliver alerts directly and immediately from the National Weather Service.

“Technology has passed up the old system,” said Palmer. “Smart phones and weather radios are more accurate and timely.”

Palmer also added the use of smart phones and weather radios eliminate the middle step and minimize “the possibility of human error” that exists in the outdoor tornado siren warning system. Furthermore, he explained the warning sirens are located outside the home and run the risk of not being heard.

Waters emphasized the system will not be taken down immediately, as all the outdoor warning sirens are currently in good working condition. Rather, the sirens will be phased out slowly as they cease to function properly, and there is no definitive end date for the process.

“As long as they continue to work, they will remain up,” said Waters of the warning sirens.

However, Waters said city would not continue to maintain the sirens.

“They are very expensive to maintain, so as they age we will take them out of service,” said Waters.

Outdoor tornado warning sirens will continue to remain outside of the Pelham City Park, the Pelham Golf Course, the Pelham Racquet Club and the Civic Complex.

According to the article, most of the system will be removed, but some of the sirens will remain at parks and other public places where a lot of people could be outside when severe weather hits.

[uncommonsense]

Their system doesn't seem really complex. Just what kind of maintenance are they doing that its too expensive?

Granted, I had trouble finding many of the units, but the sampling of units I found shows them overstating how bad it is. I don't call 2001-130s 1980s vintage or high maintenance.

Here's my sample:

140 Commerce Drive – Ryder Transportation (Mod 1004)
699 Stuart Lane – Stuart Ln (2001-130)
3000 Highway 11 – Alabama Wire (Mod 3012)
3966 Highway 11 – Deer Springs Grocery (Mod 3012--the boxes look new)
1862 Trail Ridge Drive – Indian Hills Subdivision (2001 SRNB)

Full list: http://www.pelhamonline.com/city-inform ... ng-system/

[freebrickproductions]

There's an STH-10 on Pelham Parkway.

[freebrickproductions]

Mapped most of the sirens in Pelham, most of them are 2001-130s and several of them have solar panels. The five oldest sirens are two Thunderbeams and three STH-10s.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=21 ... 7,0.264187

[holler]

James Spann used this to further his anti siren campaign on Facebook and twitter. It kind of backfired on him on FB though.

[Sirenguy02]

I'm sure these sirens will last longer then they think. I'll start going to Pelham for my recordings.

[freebrickproductions]

I'm sure these sirens will last longer then they think. I'll start going to Pelham for my recordings.

Get the Modulator 1004s first if you can; they aren't very common.

[Sirenguy02]

Will do, it's been on my agenda for a while.