[StBernard] St. Bernard erects old-fashioned siren warning system

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Mon Jun 16 08:21:06 EDT 2008


While it is true that not everyone or every household is accessible by
phone, email, or cable, and knowing the electricity goes out in most summer
storms, the sirens together with an AM Radio broadcast sound like an
improvement, if implemented.

Assuming there are different signals for different emergencies (tornado
warnings or shelter in-place accidents having one signal, explosions or
spills requiring immediate evacuation having another),

WHO determines the siren is needed and when?

will there be an all clear signal?

Emergency plans like hurricane preparedness plans are only good if
implemented.

SJK






-----Original Message-----
St. Bernard erects old-fashioned siren warning system

10:00 PM CDT on Thursday, June 12, 2008

WWLTV.com

St. Bernard Parish is erecting an old-fashioned system of sirens to warn
residents in the event of an emergency.

The siren towers are going up from Arabi to Yscloskey and the entire system
will cost about $500,000 with the funds coming from federal grants.


"The purpose of the sirens is to notify our residents in the event of an
immediate emergency that's now upon them, such as a hazmat spill," said Dave
Dysart, the St. Bernard Parish director of Homeland Security.


Dysart said the parish will also use the sirens for tornado warnings and
other public safety advisories. The sirens will be a signal to turn radios
to AM 1680, the parish's low-powered radio station, to get instructions.


Emergency planners chose to go with an old-fashioned system because they say
people in St. Bernard are harder to get in touch with post-Katrina. Many
families still don't have cable TV and many still live in FEMA trailers.
Some people don't have land lines for phone usage and instead only use cell
phones.


"Whether you're out mowing the yard, or watching TV, or in your car driving
around, if there's an emergency that occurs in St. Bernard, we're trying to
develop a method to reach out and tell you what actions you need to take
right now to protect yourself, your family or your property," said Dysart.


While St. Bernard leaders hope the extra layer of protection will give
residents another reason to return home, many who have come back don't think
that's likely.


"I think those who have not, are going to stay where they are," said Linda
Kingman, a resident of St. Bernard.


The early warning system is expected to be in operation by the end of June.





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