Outdoor Warning Sirens Integrated Public Warning Systems

Background • Originally utilized as Air

Raid Sirens under the Office of Civil Defense

• Contain two tones • Designed for Outdoor

Warning---Not Indoor Warning

• Originally supplemented with the “Bell and Light System” for building warnings

• Eventually utilized to provide for outdoor severe weather warnings

City of New Brighton Current Outdoor Warning System

County Siren Number Location Back-Up

Year Purchased Age

SIREN #23 400 Old Highway 8

SW Battery Back-

Up 1989 28

SIREN #24 622 Old Highway 8

NW Battery Back-

Up 1989 28

SIREN #25 2145 5th Street NW Battery Back-

Up 1989 28

SIREN #26 1400 14th Street NW Battery Back-

Up 1989 28

SIREN #27 2400 Mississippi

Street Battery Back-

Up 1989 28

SIREN #28 1951 Old Hwy 8 NW No Battery

Back-Up ~1962? ~55

SIREN #29 1st SE/2nd Ave SE No Battery

Back-Up ~1962? ~55

Required System Update Due April of 2018

Background • There is only one encoder left

in Minnesota and maybe the Country

• Ramsey County ECC is updating the encoder to current standards to allow for reliable warning and polygon warnings-Reduction In Over-Warning

Current Public Warning for Tornados

• Outdoor Warning Sirens (for outdoor warning)

• Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS)-all cell phones within the polygon receive alert to tornados and floods (21st Century Bell and Light System)

Option Anticipated Impact Estimated Cost

Take No Action Outdoor Warning Sirens Will No Longer Be Able to Be Activated by the RCECC would require manual activation of each siren for all warnings

$0

Replace All Existing Outdoor Warning Siren Control Boxes

RCECC will be able to activate all outdoor warning sirens-no change to current sirens

Short Term: ~$61,133

Long Term-2021 ~$59,427

Replace Five of Seven Control Boxes

RCECC will be able to activate five outdoor warning sirens-warning levels will remain within FEMA Guidelines

Short Term: ~$45,754

Long Term-2021 ~$42,448

Staff Recommendation Replace Sirens 23-27

Objective • Siren Acoustical Study conducted

by Ramsey County Emergency Management Indicated Warning Levels will remain within FEMA Guidelines

• Two sirens suggested to sunset provide warning for few people

• Estimated savings $32,358 through 2021

• Sirens continue to operate but were originally designed to warn of air raids and are approximately 55 years old with no battery back-up

• Warning Sirens are designed for Outdoor Warning Only. IPAWS Alerts***

Subjective • For some houses there will be

a reduction in audible volume • Concern about neighborhood

identity loss • Spoke with the resident who

had the siren in his yard, and no objection

• Staff “turned off” siren #29 and visited the area for the Wednesday Siren Test to confirm study and were able to distinctly hear the outdoor warning sirens

Siren #28

• Originally designed as Air Raid Siren

• Limited residential areas affected

• Siren #26 as well as siren in Arden Hills at Co Rd 10 and Hwy 96 provides recommended warning levels

Siren #26

Siren #29

• Originally designed as an air raid siren

• Warning area encompasses less than 1 block

• Siren #23 provides recommended warning levels

Siren #23 Warning Area

Summary • Recommendation to

sunset the two “air raid sirens” outdoor warning will remain within FEMA Guidelines

• Arden Hills and Roseville indicated they will not be making any adjustments to their sirens

• Estimated cost savings of $32,358