Cold War Sirens May Be Revived for Terrorism Warning

[Kathleen Padgett]

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 14) - Cold War-era sirens may be revived as terrorism warnings. Cities including Oklahoma City, Chicago and Dallas have upgraded their outdoor warning systems with a type of siren that can carry voice announcements - an idea that officials say took on added importance in the post-Sept. 11 world.

Sirens have long been used for storm disasters, but now the Federal Emergency Management Agency is studying whether they can warn people of biological, chemical or nuclear attack.

``You have all kinds of new systems,'' said Timothy Putprush, a telecommunications specialist with FEMA. ``You originate a message. You need to get it out to the population.''

Thousands of sirens were built across the country during the Cold War to warn citizens in case of nuclear attack, but the federal government stopped the program and the sirens fell silent in many of the nation's largest cities. Other cities put them to use to warn of tornadoes.

But terrorism warnings emerged as a new use for the sirens after Sept. 11. The federal government is currently updating the nation's civil preparedness guide to discuss improved ways of notifying the public of emergencies, and that includes the use of sirens.

In Oklahoma City, taxpayers agreed to spend $4.5 million several years ago to upgrade its Cold War-era warning system with 181 new sirens covering a 622-square-mile area in the city.

The sirens, together with news reports and special radios that emit a loud alarm in times of weather emergencies, helped prevent loss of life when tornadoes raked the Oklahoma City area on May 8 and 9. More than 300 homes were destroyed but only one person was killed, an elderly man who fell and hit his head while taking shelter.

The sirens can be particularly useful to people who are not listening to the radio or watching television.

``If you've got a weather radio in your house, it doesn't do much for you when you're at the ballpark,'' said Kerry Wagnon, director of public safety capital projects in Oklahoma City.

Wagnon also said the sirens could be used in the event of a terrorist attack like the one that killed 168 people in 1995.

Radio and television news reports are the warning method of choice in many large cities, where old civil defense sirens have fallen into disrepair.

``When the money dried up, the ability to maintain them, based on a perception of the threat, went away,'' said Bob Canfield, assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Department.

Sirens would not be of much use in Los Angeles because the sprawling urban area does not face the kinds of natural disasters for which they are most useful, he said.

``They're no good for earthquakes, and tornadoes are not our thing,'' Canfield said.

Jarrod Bernstein, a spokesman in New York City's Office of Emergency Preparedness, says battery-operated radios make more sense than wailing sirens in his densely populated urban area of more than 8 million people.

``We just don't think it's a practical system for New York City,'' he said.

While not dismissing sirens, officials in Washington are looking at other options including electronic text messaging and a reverse 911 system that would telephone citizens in an emergency, said Jo'Ellen Countee of the District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency.

``A lot of people want sirens - people who are old enough to remember sirens,'' Countee said.

Electronic messages might work for people with a cell phone, but Putprush said visitors at the district's many monuments or on the National Mall would need an outdoor warning.

``There are thousands and thousands of tourists there at any time of day,'' he said. ``That would be a great application for it.''

07/14/03 13:44 EDT

[Michele Maconship]

Originally posted by Kathleen Padgett
. . . The sirens, together with news reports and special radios that emit a loud alarm in times of weather emergencies, helped prevent loss of life when tornadoes raked the Oklahoma City area on May 8 and 9. . .

I think the revival of the sirens is a great idea. We have the special radio broadcast system in our office that goes off, as you mentioned, with a load alarm every time there is a weather warning in the State of Florida. Although it is a great advantage to us while we are here at the office, it is of no use once we travel home for the evening. It sounds, though, as if the sirens would only be used in the larger metropolitan areas and may not be of help in smaller rural areas. I also agree that everyone should have a portable, battery-operated radio, and batteries. We keep one in the house because of the likelihood and frequency of hurricanes in our area.

[Mr Jose Bonavich Jr]

Excellent idea especially for those of us who may not be near a t.v./radio/internet at the time of the warning. Though I hope they plan to expand this idea to more rural areas and smaller cities. :)

[Kathleen Padgett]

Hi Michele and Leisl,

You both made some very valid points... most of the focus on terrorism avoidance and response preparation has been mainly taken place within the boundaries of large cities and suburban areas. The frightening reality is terrorists can strike anywhere anytime and their attack plans are not limited to strictly large populations where they can impact numbers of people at once, but could also include anywhere where a surprise attack could be launched successfully.

I grew up in a small, somewhat remote city with an extremely low crime rate and recognize that in the "safer" parts of the country, we tend to subscribe to a theory that it would never happen here. The downside to this belief is the risk that a lack of preparation in the event that something did happen could result in increased panic and uncoordinated responses, which could be a potentially catastrophic and tragic mistake that could have been avoided with some prior coordinated planning and communication.

On the brighter side, the increased nationwide and international attention has expanded individual awareness and the willingness to report observations of suspicious activity. Prior to 9/11, this country in general terms, had a tendency to believe that terrorism was limited to the Middle East and that hijackings always resulted in the eventual release of hostages on the runway. We do still require more coordinated efforts like the siren alert system and other methods of communication throughout the country to protect our citizens. Fortunately, progress is being made and your ideas and the ideas of other observant and concerned folks like yourselves will also generate pro-active approaches to deal with emergencies in advance. Great input.

[Byron Burke II]

I do not know if the sirens will do much good for the effected area of a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical attack. Due to the suddeness of most terroist attacks it will probaly be useless, but it can not hurt any either.

[Michael Harris]

Those of us who can belong to the OBG can remember the air-raid drills of the 50's. These were scary times for school kids. I wonder if kids now will take it seriously.:confused:

[Diane Jarosz]

Hi Kathi,
I remember sirens sounding off from my childhhood days.
Oh my, the shrieking sound!
We had different sounds for differnet emergencies.
I never could get use to the piercing sounds. The noises echoed throughout our small town when an emergency would arise.
I can still hear these sounds in my memory.
Funny I can also remember the codes for each of the different sirens.

Thanks for your info! You brought back memories tucked deep away.
DJ

[Michael Harris]

Diane,

The thought of the sirens does bring up thoughts that should have stayed buried.:( :mad:

[Diane Jarosz]

Hi Michael,
You are surely right about hte deep space placed sirens.

DJ

[Michele Maconship]

I tend to agree with Byron, that warning sirens will pretty much be a joke in the wake of an all out nuclear, chemical, or biological attack. I will never forget watching the movie "Terminate 2", the premonition scene where the nuclear bomb hit, and everything was turned to dust, including the children on the playground. I am too young to remember the sirens in the 1950's, but I do recall the fear I felt in gradeschool when we learned of the bombings and aftermath that occurred in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. I just read a disturbing article in yesterday's newspaper about children and young adults in Iraq suffering post-war effects, mainly rare forms of cancer, that most obviously stemmed from the Gulf War in the early 1990's.

[Diane Jarosz]

Hi Michele,

I agree with you on the sirens.
It's too sad that human beings must suffer due to the hands of human beings!

What a race! So marvelous and yet so distructive. I don't get it?:mad:

DJ

[Robert Smith -]

I agree with the sirens, hopefully they will never have to be used. Unfortunately, there is alot of hate in this world, and unless it all comes to an end, there will always be the need of these kind of warning systems.

[Michael Harris]

For those of us who could have seen the tower fires if we had gone a few blocks closer to the shore, there is still a great sense of danger.:( From my office near Ft. Monmouth, we were close enough to the tragedy to feel it. Most of the staff lived near someone who died.:( :mad: Many from the office drove down to the ferry docks to drive people coming home from NYC, those who made it out, but had to leave their cars. :mad:

We were defense contractors, some of our staff were retired military, and we are all patriots. Our world changed -- more than many Americans far away from the pain of the loss of friends and family.

Those of us who remember the Cold War air raid drills have that fear dredged up.:mad: Will the sirens help -- I doubt that they will do nothing more than escalate the level of terror our people feel. But, at least a siren going off tells you more than a Condition Orange!

We need to root out the evil, but within the limits of the law. Most of us are embarking on a career change, one that will put us in a position to help our county while we help individuals members of our society.

:mad: :( Down with the sirens, Down with evil! :( :mad:

[Donna Scariti]

Hi Michael,

Haven't talked to you in a few days!

Well said! I agree with your points.

Living in an evil world as we do today makes you strive that much harder to try to make a little bit of difference somewhere in someone's life.

Somwhere out there people need our help, just need to go out and get it.

Have a great evening! :)

[Michael Harris]

Donna,

I got through a list of emails linking me to responses. When I got to the end, I had a half dozen more that had just come in.;)

I always start that way -- read the emial for responses, then go have some fun. :) :D :cool:

[Donna Scariti]

I hear ya! :cool:

[Diane Jarosz]

Hi Michael,
I just read your incredible story when 9/11 occured.
It's amazing that during the most horrific times people pull together. They set aside human ego and jump right in the line of danger without thinking of personal consequence.
I am steadfast for more peaceful days. I know realistically there will never be what I deem total peace. I do pray, however for less blood shed and proliferated human kindness.
I agree totally about sirens. They were of no use during cold war days.
DJ

[Michael Harris]

Diane,

I was working with some amazing people. :D I hope that where ever you go, you have people like that around in times of danger. :)

I suspect that no matter where we are, you will find enough good people to help. :) :D :cool:

[Diane Jarosz]

Howdy again Michael,

I'm a rue believer there is good in everyone. deep in their hearts.
Think about it. There were no crimes reported during the 9/11 tragedy.
DJ

[Flora Porter]

Diane,

I was working with some amazing people. :D I hope that where ever you go, you have people like that around in times of danger. :)

I suspect that no matter where we are, you will find enough good people to help. :) :D :cool:
Hello Michael,

Those tears will remain. To see the Towers fall.
Mike i cant get over no one came back out.

The city folks stuck together to give help.
Even ready to give a hand or blood if needed.

But i thought about that siren or watch tower or even a court marshall at such threat levels. Isn't that when you have to be home at certain times.

P.I.Trainee
FPorter

[Michael Harris]

Flora,

I had not read those words in more than a year. It still hurts to think of the tragedy - the lives that were lost and the lives that were destroyed.

Being close to the scene and seeing the survivors helps keep out mission in focus - We need to root out the evil, but within the limits of the law.

[Tammy Elia]

Michael,
Yes it hurts, I still cry when 9/11 is mentioned, I was still living in N.Y. then. I spent that morning evacuating my building in Stamford, CT and ensuring my employees that lived in the borroughs made it home. Because of our location next to the Swiss Bank which in the first hour was thought to have a possible threat the authorities thought it best to evacuate Because of the intimate connection many of us had to the victims our company chose to close.You could even see the smoke from the shores of CT.
The sirens could be an effective tool if thought out wisely. But I find it the saddest thing that we even have to discuss the possibility of it as a means to save our children and our nation.
May we all find peace in the days to come.

[Flora Porter]

Michael,
Yes it hurts, I still cry when 9/11 is mentioned, I was still living in N.Y. then. I spent that morning evacuating my building in Stamford, CT and ensuring my employees that lived in the borroughs made it home. Because of our location next to the Swiss Bank which in the first hour was thought to have a possible threat the authorities thought it best to evacuate Because of the intimate connection many of us had to the victims our company chose to close.You could even see the smoke from the shores of CT.
The sirens could be an effective tool if thought out wisely. But I find it the saddest thing that we even have to discuss the possibility of it as a means to save our children and our nation.
May we all find peace in the days to come.
Thanks Tammy
PEACE for the future