ThatACAGuy
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Xenia, OH Thunderbolt Question

Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:33 am

As we all know, Xenia, Ohio was struck by a Huge tornado in 1974. Back then, Xenia had a system of Thunderbolts. There is only one recording of the sirens in "Action". However, I am to believe that these are not true recordings, But rather images with edited in audio. It even shows a SD-10,with a 4/5 Thunderbolt sound recording. None of the thunderbolts appear to be rotating. Is this true footage? :?:
The video in question: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9JjF-Slqf ... FnZQ%3D%3D

FS T-Bolt
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Re: Xenia, OH Thunderbolt Question

Tue Feb 18, 2025 1:17 pm

Xenia did not have a siren system until after the 1974 tornado. The only warning close to a siren that the city had was a train conductor who laid on the horn as he saw the tornado approaching. From what I remember reading, the city ended up getting 5 Thunderbolt 1000/1000T sirens in the few years following the tornado. This system as a whole failed when Xenia was hit by another (but much weaker) tornado in 2000. I also want to say that Xenia’s Thunderbolts are no longer active.

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Josh R
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Re: Xenia, OH Thunderbolt Question

Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:57 am

ThatACAGuy wrote:
Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:33 am
As we all know, Xenia, Ohio was struck by a Huge tornado in 1974. Back then, Xenia had a system of Thunderbolts. There is only one recording of the sirens in "Action". However, I am to believe that these are not true recordings, But rather images with edited in audio. It even shows a SD-10,with a 4/5 Thunderbolt sound recording. None of the thunderbolts appear to be rotating. Is this true footage? :?:
The video in question: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9JjF-Slqf ... FnZQ%3D%3D

Those sirens shown in the “Day of the Killer Tornadoes” documentary were not in Xenia. I’m not sure where they were located, but I believe I saw another documentary before about a tornado that featured the same sirens. Some of them may have been from Cincinnati’s original system. What FS T-Bolt said is correct. Xenia did not have a system of sirens prior to the 1974 tornado. It wasn’t until after the tornado in mid to late 1974 and 1975 that the Thunderbolts were installed in the city of Xenia and Xenia Township. I did some research in the past by viewing archives of the Xenia Daily Gazette to find out this info. Xenia ultimately decided to upgrade their system to sirens with a battery backup after the sirens failed due to a power failure during the 2000 tornado. I believe it was around the early to mid 2000s (possibly 2003) that Xenia and Xenia Township upgraded their system. I believe I saw a release from the city of Xenia before that mentioned that their system was upgraded in 2003. Xenia’s Thunderbolts were 1000T’s. I confirmed this as one of them is missing its horn (not sure why) and you can see the two ports on the stator, which makes it dual tone.
Josh R.
Moderator of The Siren Board


Owner of a complete Federal Thunderbolt 1000BT with RCM1B and AR Timer, and a gray 12 volt siren.


My YouTube Channel

ThatACAGuy
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Re: Xenia, OH Thunderbolt Question

Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:45 pm

Josh R wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:57 am
ThatACAGuy wrote:
Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:33 am
As we all know, Xenia, Ohio was struck by a Huge tornado in 1974. Back then, Xenia had a system of Thunderbolts. There is only one recording of the sirens in "Action". However, I am to believe that these are not true recordings, But rather images with edited in audio. It even shows a SD-10,with a 4/5 Thunderbolt sound recording. None of the thunderbolts appear to be rotating. Is this true footage? :?:
The video in question: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9JjF-Slqf ... FnZQ%3D%3D

Those sirens shown in the “Day of the Killer Tornadoes” documentary were not in Xenia. I’m not sure where they were located, but I believe I saw another documentary before about a tornado that featured the same sirens. Some of them may have been from Cincinnati’s original system. What FS T-Bolt said is correct. Xenia did not have a system of sirens prior to the 1974 tornado. It wasn’t until after the tornado in mid to late 1974 and 1975 that the Thunderbolts were installed in the city of Xenia and Xenia Township. I did some research in the past by viewing archives of the Xenia Daily Gazette to find out this info. Xenia ultimately decided to upgrade their system to sirens with a battery backup after the sirens failed due to a power failure during the 2000 tornado. I believe it was around the early to mid 2000s (possibly 2003) that Xenia and Xenia Township upgraded their system. I believe I saw a release from the city of Xenia before that mentioned that their system was upgraded in 2003. Xenia’s Thunderbolts were 1000T’s. I confirmed this as one of them is missing its horn (not sure why) and you can see the two ports on the stator, which makes it dual tone.
Okay. Thank you for the information, I appreciated it! :)

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Josh R
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Re: Xenia, OH Thunderbolt Question

Sat Feb 22, 2025 3:44 am

ThatACAGuy wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:45 pm
Josh R wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:57 am
ThatACAGuy wrote:
Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:33 am
As we all know, Xenia, Ohio was struck by a Huge tornado in 1974. Back then, Xenia had a system of Thunderbolts. There is only one recording of the sirens in "Action". However, I am to believe that these are not true recordings, But rather images with edited in audio. It even shows a SD-10,with a 4/5 Thunderbolt sound recording. None of the thunderbolts appear to be rotating. Is this true footage? :?:
The video in question: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9JjF-Slqf ... FnZQ%3D%3D

Those sirens shown in the “Day of the Killer Tornadoes” documentary were not in Xenia. I’m not sure where they were located, but I believe I saw another documentary before about a tornado that featured the same sirens. Some of them may have been from Cincinnati’s original system. What FS T-Bolt said is correct. Xenia did not have a system of sirens prior to the 1974 tornado. It wasn’t until after the tornado in mid to late 1974 and 1975 that the Thunderbolts were installed in the city of Xenia and Xenia Township. I did some research in the past by viewing archives of the Xenia Daily Gazette to find out this info. Xenia ultimately decided to upgrade their system to sirens with a battery backup after the sirens failed due to a power failure during the 2000 tornado. I believe it was around the early to mid 2000s (possibly 2003) that Xenia and Xenia Township upgraded their system. I believe I saw a release from the city of Xenia before that mentioned that their system was upgraded in 2003. Xenia’s Thunderbolts were 1000T’s. I confirmed this as one of them is missing its horn (not sure why) and you can see the two ports on the stator, which makes it dual tone.
Okay. Thank you for the information, I appreciated it! :)
You’re welcome! :wink:
Josh R.
Moderator of The Siren Board


Owner of a complete Federal Thunderbolt 1000BT with RCM1B and AR Timer, and a gray 12 volt siren.


My YouTube Channel

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