Officials discuss weather alert pros, cons
Published 6:25 pm Wednesday, June 8, 2011
While a whirlwind of aldermen opinions surfaced during Tuesday’sboard meeting, a work session was held right after as cityofficials gathered input and advice of area emergency managementpersonnel regarding weather warning systems.
Whether it is extremely dry, pouring rain or horrific tornadoes,inclement weather has been on the minds of citizens and governmentofficials recently. During Tuesday’s work session, aldermenreceived advice regarding weather sirens, emergency alert messagingsystems and other forms of communication to alert those indanger.
“One is good, both is better,” said Monticello Mayor DaveNichols II of the multiple alert options. “Nothing’s perfect.”
Emergency management representatives from Adams County discussedwith the board the CodeRed phone messaging service they are using,which Ward Six Alderman David Phillips briefly informed the boardof in a previous aldermen meeting.
“I’m going to sound like a salesperson for CodeRed because Ireally believe in it,” said Adams County Emergency ManagementDirector Stan Owens Jr.
CodeRed is an opt-in system, in which a person is needed toapprove the phone numbers to be entered into the program. Thesystem can be specified to issue voice alerts, based on theNational Weather Service, to people’s cell phone or landlinenumbers according to an administrator.
“Just warn your public, CodeRed does not know it’s 2 o’clock inthe morning,” joked Owens.
The system is free to the public, but costs Adams County around$15,000. The fee for the program is based on population and Owenssaid it would probably cost Brookhaven around $10,000.
“If that phone call calls and, like I said, saves one life, youcan’t put a price on that,” said Adams County E-911 Board ChairmanBryant Adams.
Nichols, who also works with Homeland Security, informed theboard regarding Global Connect – another phone alert emergencynotification system – that he is looking into for LawrenceCounty.
“It actually does everything that CodeRed does and more, andit’s cheaper,” said Nichols.
He said Global Connect is being used in Panola County and theypaid about $4,000 for the first year and $8,000 the second year forthe emergency alert service. He also mentioned the system seems tooffer additional alerts, such as those not issued by the NationalWeather Service.
Monticello has four sirens and Nichols gave advice to the boardregarding the ranges of sirens and the several different types ofsirens, including sirens that can play a voice recording.
“Make sure you also have (a siren) that operates off batteriesbecause when your power goes out, your siren is useless to you,”Nichols advised the board.
Nichols also warned the aldermen that sirens are not the perfectsolution to emergency management notifications.
“Sirens are designed for people that are outside,” said Nichols.”Sirens are not designed for people that are inside.”
After the board heard suggestions and advice from areaofficials, the aldermen listened to Lincoln County Civil DefenseDirector Clifford Galey discuss the reality of the situation.
“We do still have the grants in for the sirens, but will we getit for them; no,” said Galey. “I have been playing this politicalgame since 2008 and I’m not going to do that tonight. I’m going totell you the truth.”
Galey said he had applied for a grant for eight sirens in 2008,but the money was allocated elsewhere before Lincoln Countyreceived any funding. Galey said eight sirens cost about $170,000in 2008, but the price is now around $190,000.
“It’s been 16 years, for me, as emergency management directorthis month and I have been working with the city in some capacityfor the past 16 years and then some before then to try and getsirens, and we just haven’t been able to do it,” Galey said.
With unavailable funding for sirens, Galey thinks a messageservice would make the quickest impact.
“At this point in time, money wise and reaching the most amountof people, I think the message system would be the best (choice),”said Galey.
Mayor Les Bumgarner said the city will not toss sirens to thewind, as the board has recently discussed budgeting for a sireneach year. However, like Galey, he thinks a messaging system wouldbe the best solution right now.
“I think what the board is looking at is going to the phonesystem because we can go to it almost immediately,” saidBumgarner.