Officials in Missouri’s capital city have decided to look into improving its aging storm warning system, after a deadly tornado hit the state’s southwest.
Two of Jefferson City’s 15 warning sirens currently are not working, and many of its other sirens are several decades old. With that in mind, the city’s public safety committee decided Thursday to start the process for requesting proposals for two different early warning systems.
The decision by Jefferson City comes less than two weeks after a tornado killed at least 138 people in Joplin, destroying more than 8,000 homes and 500 commercial buildings.
“Joplin has nothing to do with this and everything to do with this,” Jefferson City Police Chief Roger Schroeder said. “We had this meeting scheduled well before the tornado happened. We have been researching this for almost a year. Yet, that tragedy in Joplin clearly illustrates the importance of this subject.”
The Jefferson City News Tribune reported Friday that the city’s current budget allots $15,000 to maintain the warning system. Police Capt. Bob Cynova said that money has gone almost exclusively to replacing damaged parts for failing sirens, which he said are becoming more difficult to obtain as the system gets older. Most sirens are between 30 and 45 years old.
The city plans to look in to two new warning options. One could replace the old rotary sirens with newer digital sirens capable of broadcasting numerous sounds with a clearer signal that covers twice the area. The digital system also allows a voice message to be broadcast, and it self-diagnoses problems through a computer — potentially eliminating the need for monthly tests of the sirens.
Another option would be to subscribe to a phone alert system to warn people of severe weather through text messages or phone calls. City officials say the phone system would not replace the sirens, but would be a supplement to them.
City Councilman Bryan Pope said the city needs to take action as soon as possible to improve its weather warning system.
“On a historical note, I sat here in the spring of 2005 and heard this same lecture,” Pope said. “It’s time to do something.”
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