MEMPHIS, Mo. -- Emergency Management Director Bryan Whitney presented a proposal for upgrading the city?s emergency warning system at the August 7th meeting of the Memphis City Council.
Following fatal storms in Iowa, mayor William Reckenberg suggested upgrading the city?s warning siren, noting the current siren set-up required to much time to be triggered. Currently the warning siren must be activated at the city water plant, requiring a phone call from the dispatcher?s office.
Whitney presented a proposal to upgrade the nearly 50-year-old system with a new, louder siren that could be triggered by wireless activation keys. Those buttons could be located at the Scotland County Sheriff?s Department in the dispatch center, as well as in all emergency service vehicles such as police, sheriff and fire department.
The emergency director noted that grant funding for these types of projects is available through the USDA, but the application period is in February.
The council authorized Whitney to contact siren system distributors in an effort to schedule a review of the community to determine exact needs. There was some concern among the council that the community might need two sirens.
http://memphisdemocrat.com/2008/news/080814_siren.shtml