The Siren Board

I know that Environment Canada implemented a radio alert system not too long ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if reverse 911 gains acceptance quick.

Same here. I like the idea but if your like me we don't have a home phone so if something is sent out I won't know and if the power goes out then they can't send out the alert.

Yeah, and most people don't even check their cellphone messages until they have the free time to do so, which is why reverse 911 seems a bit of a dud when used on its own.

SirenMadness wrote:Yeah, and most people don't even check their cellphone messages until they have the free time to do so, which is why reverse 911 seems a bit of a dud when used on its own.

I even confronted the EM about that and he didn't give me an answer but I guess if they implemented sirens instead the same thing would happen if the power is out unless they decide to put backup power supplies in them. I know that the city is planning on putting generators in most if not all of the fire stations if that don't have generators. Maybe if they did impletment sirens they could put tornado sirens at the fire station so that way the city will still have working sirens around the city. What do you think about my thought?

The goal of any siren system is to have each siren strategically placed. I know the station down on Goyeau would cover a good part of downtown, but I don't think there are enough well-placed stations around the city to offset the benefits of just going with batteries.

Having a reverse-911 system is better than nothing. I think it's extremely unlikely any municipality will go the siren route at this point. After the August 20, 2009 tornado outbreak it was looking like big changes were coming to the warning systems in this province. McGuinty implemented the new and now failed red alert program, they were fast tracking the EAS, and municipalities were looking into siren options. But, cost analysis proved sirens were way to expensive and the topic disappeared. After the Leamington tornadoes in 2010, and something like 8 tornado warnings for Essex County they were back on the siren, but it's been 4 years almost and nothing has moved. Not even the Goderich tornado in 2011 was enough to push any municipality excluding Huron County. The county requested millions from the government to implement a county-wide tornado siren system and they were denied the money. The topic has again disappeared. Unless there is another extremely damaging tornado in years to come, sirens won't be an option. It's nice to see at least Essex County is taking the threat seriously by looking into reverse-911.

Model2 wrote:Having a reverse-911 system is better than nothing. I think it's extremely unlikely any municipality will go the siren route at this point. After the August 20, 2009 tornado outbreak it was looking like big changes were coming to the warning systems in this province. McGuinty implemented the new and now failed red alert program, they were fast tracking the EAS, and municipalities were looking into siren options. But, cost analysis proved sirens were way to expensive and the topic disappeared. After the Leamington tornadoes in 2010, and something like 8 tornado warnings for Essex County they were back on the siren, but it's been 4 years almost and nothing has moved. Not even the Goderich tornado in 2011 was enough to push any municipality excluding Huron County. The county requested millions from the government to implement a county-wide tornado siren system and they were denied the money. The topic has again disappeared. Unless there is another extremely damaging tornado in years to come, sirens won't be an option. It's nice to see at least Essex County is taking the threat seriously by looking into reverse-911.

You have a point there. Something is better than nothing I guess. I still wonder why the government is denying Southern Ontario county municipalities grants even though the majority of county governments are in favor of a siren system. I would wonder what they would be funneling their money to that is apperently way more important than an emergency notification system... :problem:

ECwindsor wrote:
You have a point there. Something is better than nothing I guess. I still wonder why the government is denying Southern Ontario county municipalities grants even though the majority of county governments are in favor of a siren system. I would wonder what they would be funneling their money to that is apperently way more important than an emergency notification system... :problem:

Because we don't have an agency like FEMA to give out grant money for emergency preparedness or post-disaster management. It's all up to the individual municipalities to pay for disaster planning, and quite often post-disaster costs.

*Off Topic*, I always wonder why in the USA they have better warning systems, weather offices and EAS plans. I rely strongly on the NWS Detroit for EAS alerts and forecasts because Environment Canada can't provide certain things in their weather info.

Yeah, Enviro Canada gives out an official tornado watch watch after the tornado has passed loljkjk!