I posted this over on CadetStuff because, if memory serves me correctly, there's a few fire fighters over there. I'm posting this here as well so I don't miss anyone. I'm hoping to get as many opinions as possible (not just those from firefighters / ES types).
As some may remember (from the topic I made back in October - over on CS), I live in the area of San Diego that was hit the hardest during the fires. I was talking to a friend about an idea I had, and he thought it just might have a chance.
The idea I had was for the creation of a "fire siren" system in cities/towns/counties that are prone to disasterous fires (such as San Diego). This would be similar (if not identical) to a system for flood/tornado/tsunami/hurricane sirens.
The day we left, it was 0430, and the only reason we left was because my brother had just left for work and happend to go past the huge, flame-engulfed hill not more than 500 feet from us. He came back, told us, and we left just as the cops came by ('bout 10 of 'em) and said we had 2 minutes otherwise we'd all be booted out of our houses.
My personal opinion is that this would definitely help (especially in San Diego) where the emergency services (especially the fire department) is notoriously known for being understaffed and underfunded. It would help firefighters immensly in that it would free them from having to start off by helping with evacuations so they could go directly to fighting the fires.
What say you all on the subject?
Does this sound like it could work?
It sounds like you are talking about the old Civil Defense Siren System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raid_siren). Growing up in LI, NY in the 1960s they used to set these off every day at noon to test them.
Isn't reverse 9-11 now available in most places? We use it for fire evacuation around Denver and they target affected communities only. Sirens can go everywhere and therefore be ignored. Sirens are more of an old system, although still used, that came out of the 50s when not everyone had a phone, or had party lines on rural areas.
On this matter but a slightly different point -- I once heard Stan Frieberg (I think on record but maybe TV) in the 50s. He poked as much fun at the air-raid sirens as we do Homeland Security Color Coding today. Mr Frieberg in announcery tones explained that one long siren blast meant incoming ballistic missile attack. One long and two shorts meant bombers inbound -- Two shorts, two long silences separated by a burp and too whistles that sounds like a small boy who is missing his front teeth may mean either attack by Piper Cub or Piper Cherokee attack but never a Piper Aztec. My point being is that these siren things get a life all there own. We do Amber alerts for missing everythings now... right up to but not yet including dogs. Meaning Grandparents running later than planned bringing a child home from T-Ball. (slight exaggeration). It was designed originally for the likelyhood of a child-stranger only abduction. You see how that community alert system things go.
Everybody stay safe but please don't cry wolf... because that means system failure will soon follow.
With regards;
ED OBRIEN
We have a nuclear power plant about 40 miles from us. They test the sirens [I think] once per month. From 40 miles away I can hear them loud and clear. They are probably the only way that I'd find out that something bad was going to happen [though I don't know that it would be much help in the event of a catostrophic failure, though the jetstream blows over the atlantic and not towards me.]
A few "issues" that I could see with instituting the sirens.
1) Unless they have differnet "zones" you might be alerting people who don't need to participate. Like the sirens above, everyone in a 40 mile radius (or more) would be taking action, which may make it more difficult for those in real trouble to do what they need to do to escape or prepare.
2) People might become de-sensitized to them, much like fire-alarms in workplaces. Quick aside: We recently had a no notice fire-drill here at work. Only 1/2 of the 700 people left the building when they went off. 25 people in the company gym were found to still be working out with some saying "It was only a drill, right?" About 200 others just stood up in their cubes and looked to see what others were doing with 1/2 taking no action, just continuing to work. <- I admit, the people I work with are pretty smart intellectually, but not so much on the common sense. 25 minutes later the building was clear. The fire department was not impressed :)
3) Unless they are REALLY loud, they may not be heard where they need to be anyway - inside homes, etc.
4) Cost. The emergency staff is underfunded (as you said), they might not have the money to put a system in place.
Benefits:
1) Quick notification of the general public in a wide area.
2) Notice to those who are not near a radio, tv, etc.
3) Faster response than making phone calls or driving through neighborhoods with a loudspeaker.
Just some thoughts.
I grew up in a rural town in Northeast PA. The volunteer Fire Department was alerted that way. Later they got pagers but still used the siren. It was tested at noon every day. My little bitty elementary used that to signify lunch and recess. I hear one of those to this day and get a craving for baloney :D
Quote from: RRLE on June 05, 2008, 12:34:24 PM
It sounds like you are talking about the old Civil Defense Siren System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raid_siren). Growing up in LI, NY in the 1960s they used to set these off every day at noon to test them.
They still do.
Didn't know there was many other Long Island guys here.