PPT Outdoor Citywide emergency tornado warning siren

1. FIRE DEPARTMENT
Presented by:
Michael Gdovin
Fire Chief
OUTDOOR TORNADO WARNING
SYSTEMS
ITEM # 7
JANUARY 11, 2021

2. SUMMARY
• Provide information regarding features of an outdoor
tornado warning siren system
• Provide information regarding features of Wireless
Emergency Alerts (WEAs)

3. BACKGROUND
Survey of 122 agencies/municipalities that
utilize outdoor tornado warning siren systems
The agencies/municipalities were obtained
from the Storm Sirens Inc. representatives list
of past installations

4. BACKGROUND
Survey of 122 agencies/municipalities summary:
Limited responses provided
17
105
Survey Email
Undelivered Delivered

5. BACKGROUND
4
101
Survey Email Responses
Reply Received No Reply

6. BACKGROUND
Survey Summary:
Unable to identify if it can be heard indoors at .6 miles
Lack of replies
Sirens are not designed to be audible indoors

7. BACKGROUND
•Wireless Emergency Alerts
•Broadcast from cell towers to any WEA enabled mobile
device in a locally targeted area
•Types of Wireless Emergency Alerts
•Presidential Alerts
•Public Safety Alerts
•America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts
•Opt-in Test Messages
• https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system/public/wireless-emergency-alerts

8. BACKGROUND
•Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs)
•free wireless notifications that are delivered to your
mobile device as part of a public safety system
•designed to inform you of imminent threats to safety or
missing persons alerts in your area
•must have a compatible device and be located in an area
(e.g., county) targeted by Authorized Senders to receive
the alert

9. BACKGROUND
•The system is a collaborative effort among:
•Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
•Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology
Directorate (DHS S&T)
•Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)
•Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

10. BACKGROUND
•Regional Emergency Alert Network (REAN)
•FREE opt-in emergency notification tool for ALL citizens of Bexar
County
•Uses the Bexar Metro 911 landline database for emergency
notifications
•Cell phone and email information that you provide, gives
emergency responders more options for reaching residents and
businesses in the Bexar County area
• https://www.bexar.org/2090/Get-Emergency-Notifications

11. BACKGROUND
•Regional Emergency Alert Network (REAN)
•Provides public safety officials the capability to send emergency
notifications and alerts to citizens in Bexar, Comal, & Guadalupe
Counties including the following cities:
•Alamo Heights, Balcones Heights, Bulverde, Castle Hills, China Grove, Cibolo,
Converse, Elmendorf, Fair Oaks Ranch, Garden Ridge, Grey Forest, Helotes,
Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park, Kingsbury, Kirby, Leon Valley, Live Oak,
Marion, New Berlin, New Braunfels, Olmos Park, San Antonio, Santa Clara,
Schertz, Seguin, Selma, Shavano Park, Somerset, Spring Branch, St. Hedwig,
Staples, Terrell Hills, Universal City, Von Ormy and Windcrest

12. BACKGROUND
•Tornado specific alert: Tornado Alert

13. FISCAL IMPACT: $56,424.75
•Storm Siren 16V1T-B
•$26,950.00
•Automated alert activation system
•$24,950.00
•CPS service / meter loop
• $316.00
• $8.75 monthly
•Electrician to complete on-site electrical
•$4,200.00