State of the Siren Warning State of the Siren Warning SystemSystem

Why are we hereWhy are we here

Siren funding questionsSiren funding questions Maintenance of current systemMaintenance of current system

How do we pay for it, Who pays for itHow do we pay for it, Who pays for it Opportunity for replacement sirensOpportunity for replacement sirens

$100,000 county wide for 30 sirens plus the $100,000 county wide for 30 sirens plus the control system – Do we want it?control system – Do we want it?

Questions for the WorkshopQuestions for the Workshop

What part do Sirens play in the county What part do Sirens play in the county warning system?warning system?

How much should the County and How much should the County and Cities invest in the sirens?Cities invest in the sirens?

How do we pay for the sirens?How do we pay for the sirens? How do we coordinate the How do we coordinate the

maintenance and repairs to assure maintenance and repairs to assure operation?operation?

Where do Sirens fit into public Where do Sirens fit into public warning systemswarning systems

Reverse 911Reverse 911 Delivers a custom message to land Delivers a custom message to land

lines based on geographic arealines based on geographic area Can cover the entire county in about Can cover the entire county in about

2 hours2 hours Does not work geographically with Does not work geographically with

Cell PhonesCell Phones Needs Internet plus Phone systemsNeeds Internet plus Phone systems

NoAA Weather RadioNoAA Weather Radio Available all over, reliableAvailable all over, reliable Needs Phone systemNeeds Phone system

EAS (Emergency Broadcast system)EAS (Emergency Broadcast system) Good for getting message to Good for getting message to

anybody with a radio or tv turned on.anybody with a radio or tv turned on. Other - Local volunteers and/or Other - Local volunteers and/or

police with loudspeakers going police with loudspeakers going Door-to-DoorDoor-to-Door

Requires that emergency personnel Requires that emergency personnel and volunteers enter the danger and volunteers enter the danger zone.zone.

E-mail, Twitter, Nixle, Text E-mail, Twitter, Nixle, Text messagingmessaging

Require the internet and phone Require the internet and phone systems to worksystems to work

Tsunami SirensTsunami Sirens Good for getting peoples Good for getting peoples

attentionattention Funded by Cities, Fire Funded by Cities, Fire

Departments, County and other Departments, County and other local agencieslocal agencies

Approximately 11,000 people Approximately 11,000 people live in range of a sirenlive in range of a siren

Approximately 2700 people live Approximately 2700 people live within the inundation zonewithin the inundation zone

Approximately 4500 visitors Approximately 4500 visitors daily are within the inundation daily are within the inundation zone*zone*

* Average over the year – More in summer, Less * Average over the year – More in summer, Less in Winterin Winter

** From 2000 census – Could be Plus 100%** From 2000 census – Could be Plus 100%

Current Siren Warning system

31 Tsunami Sirens31 Tsunami SirensSirens By Agency:Sirens By Agency: # sirens Population* # sirens Population* Bay CityBay City 22 1,5001,500 Rockaway BeachRockaway Beach 55 2,4002,400 City of ManzanitaCity of Manzanita 22 800 800 City of GaribaldiCity of Garibaldi 22 900 900 City of NehalemCity of Nehalem 33 1,4001,400 Tierra del mar Owners AssocTierra del mar Owners Assoc 22 136 136 USFSUSFS 11 70 70 State ParksState Parks 11 4 4 Twin Rocks Friends CampTwin Rocks Friends Camp 11 470 470 Netarts FireNetarts Fire 44 1,000 1,000 CountyCounty 88 2,400 2,400

---------- ------------------Total:Total: 3131 11,00011,000

• Plus an average 4500 visitors each day in the inundation zone Plus an average 4500 visitors each day in the inundation zone countywidecountywide

Two Types of SirensTwo Types of Sirens Standard SirenStandard Siren

Motorized (110V or 220V)Motorized (110V or 220V) Radio activatedRadio activated No Voice capabilitiesNo Voice capabilities About a 1 mile rangeAbout a 1 mile range $5000 new$5000 new

Electronic sirenElectronic siren SpeakersSpeakers Radio ActivatedRadio Activated Can do voice Can do voice

announcementsannouncements Battery poweredBattery powered About a 1 mile rangeAbout a 1 mile range Up to $25,000 newUp to $25,000 new

Siren ControllersSiren Controllers

Two stylesTwo styles OLD style – Circa 1960sOLD style – Circa 1960s

TransistorsTransistors Mechanical 3 minute timerMechanical 3 minute timer Not programmableNot programmable Wideband channels onlyWideband channels only

NEW Style – Modern controller (All controllers NEW Style – Modern controller (All controllers need to be updated to this style to meet FCC need to be updated to this style to meet FCC rules)rules)

Programmable via computerProgrammable via computer Non-mechanical – no moving partsNon-mechanical – no moving parts Meets FCC new Narrowband channel rulesMeets FCC new Narrowband channel rules

Note: FCC requires narrowband channels by January 1st, 2013

Examples of current statusExamples of current status

Systems in placeSystems in place Siren Operations

Call to 911 for activationCall to 911 for activation From Local Emergency ManagerFrom Local Emergency Manager From NoAA via State Warning pointFrom NoAA via State Warning point

911 operator “Presses the button”911 operator “Presses the button” Primary System if available, Secondary if notPrimary System if available, Secondary if not Sheriff has tertiary activation capabilitiesSheriff has tertiary activation capabilities

County radio relays command to all sirensCounty radio relays command to all sirens Sirens sound 3 minute signal Sirens sound 3 minute signal

automatically automatically

Systems in placeSystems in place Siren Maintenance

Owners are responsible for:Owners are responsible for: Electrical costsElectrical costs Repairs/ReplacementRepairs/Replacement Reporting on test dayReporting on test day

County program is responsible for:County program is responsible for: Twice yearly performance testingTwice yearly performance testing County maintains relay radio for activationCounty maintains relay radio for activation County maintains tertiary activation systemCounty maintains tertiary activation system County coordinates test reportingCounty coordinates test reporting

911 maintains911 maintains Primary and secondary activation systemPrimary and secondary activation system Communications link to State OEM for notificationCommunications link to State OEM for notification

No agreements existNo agreements exist

Expected performance of the Expected performance of the warning systemswarning systems

Near shore earthquake and Tsunami Near shore earthquake and Tsunami

Likely failure of power, telephone, Likely failure of power, telephone, Internet and transportation systemsInternet and transportation systems

Possible failure of 911/county radio Possible failure of 911/county radio systemsystem

20 minutes for notification via NAWAS, 20 minutes for notification via NAWAS, NWS, EAS systems (if they work)NWS, EAS systems (if they work)

Expected performance of the Expected performance of the warning systems (cont’d)warning systems (cont’d)

Distant earthquakeDistant earthquake No shaking felt locallyNo shaking felt locally No infrastructure damage, all systems workNo infrastructure damage, all systems work Tsunami Watch issued (20 minutes)Tsunami Watch issued (20 minutes) Tsunami Warning issued when wave is Tsunami Warning issued when wave is

verifiedverified Will receive wide Radio/TV coverageWill receive wide Radio/TV coverage Wave arrival times and height’s predictedWave arrival times and height’s predicted

Weaknesses of the current Weaknesses of the current siren systemsiren system

Funding –Funding – Not all the owners have or are willing to spend the Not all the owners have or are willing to spend the

money for maintenancemoney for maintenance Funds compete with other needs like Police, Fire trucks, Funds compete with other needs like Police, Fire trucks,

and Parksand Parks

Age/MaintenanceAge/Maintenance Constant maintenance needsConstant maintenance needs

Rust, Age, UpdatesRust, Age, Updates Replacement planningReplacement planning

maintenance costsmaintenance costs

ElectricElectric $200 to 300$200 to 300 /year/Siren/year/Siren Visual Inspection Visual Inspection $ 20 $ 20 /year/Siren/year/Siren Electronic TestsElectronic Tests $ 40 $ 40 /year/Siren/year/Siren Operational TestsOperational Tests $ 240$ 240 /year/year Test reportingTest reporting $1200$1200 /year/year RepairsRepairs

Replace hoodReplace hood $1200$1200 R&R radio with spareR&R radio with spare $ 85$ 85 Repair/Replace Cutoff switchRepair/Replace Cutoff switch $1200$1200 Replace motor HeadReplace motor Head $3000$3000 Replace RelayReplace Relay $1200$1200 Replace Radio with NewReplace Radio with New $2700$2700

County spendingCounty spending

06-07 year06-07 year $ 6,500$ 6,500 07-08 year07-08 year $38,000$38,000 08-09 year08-09 year $ 3,000$ 3,000 09-10 year09-10 year $ 3,000$ 3,000 10-11 year10-11 year $ 15,000*$ 15,000*

Estimated maintenance is $1000/siren/yearEstimated maintenance is $1000/siren/year* Projected budget amount* Projected budget amount

Other ImpactsOther Impacts

NWS – Tsunami ReadyNWS – Tsunami Ready Sirens are one of the accepted means of Sirens are one of the accepted means of

warning dissemination.warning dissemination. www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov/guidelines.htmwww.tsunamiready.noaa.gov/guidelines.htm Need two methods of dissemination– Sirens are ONE Need two methods of dissemination– Sirens are ONE

of our systems.of our systems. Flood Insurance Rating System – Flood Insurance Rating System –

Tsunami damage is considered “Flood” Tsunami damage is considered “Flood” damage and falls under the NFIPdamage and falls under the NFIP

FEMA provides better rates for Tsunami Ready FEMA provides better rates for Tsunami Ready Communities, 30 points.Communities, 30 points.

Options for the Siren Options for the Siren SystemSystem

1.1. Eliminate the siren warning and activation system completely. Eliminate the siren warning and activation system completely. Build public education campaign instead.Build public education campaign instead.

2.2. County/911 maintain only the activation system, local agencies County/911 maintain only the activation system, local agencies must support and pay for the sirens. No standards, County/911 must support and pay for the sirens. No standards, County/911 only provide the activation signal.only provide the activation signal.

3.3. Establish a Fund for siren maintenance and care. Each Establish a Fund for siren maintenance and care. Each jurisdiction/district pays a fixed amount per siren per year into jurisdiction/district pays a fixed amount per siren per year into the fund, or they are pulled out. The fund takes care of all the the fund, or they are pulled out. The fund takes care of all the sirens. Agreements will be established. Only sirens within the sirens. Agreements will be established. Only sirens within the fund are allowed for Tsunami use.fund are allowed for Tsunami use.

4.4. Maintain Current status – Private ownership of sirens. Sirens Maintain Current status – Private ownership of sirens. Sirens may be pulled out when private parties or jurisdictions cannot may be pulled out when private parties or jurisdictions cannot raise funds for maintenance; County/911 maintain activation raise funds for maintenance; County/911 maintain activation system; County maintains twice yearly certification testing system; County maintains twice yearly certification testing program. program.

5.5. Improve and expand the system for more coverage and better Improve and expand the system for more coverage and better sirens – Funding unknown.sirens – Funding unknown.

Questions for the WorkshopQuestions for the Workshop

What part do Sirens play in the county What part do Sirens play in the county warning system?warning system?

How much should the County and How much should the County and Cities invest in the sirens?Cities invest in the sirens?

How do we pay for the sirens?How do we pay for the sirens? How do we coordinate the How do we coordinate the

maintenance and repairs to assure maintenance and repairs to assure operation?operation?