Well, unfortunately, it's upon us; tornado season in Alabama has already struck with vengeance and we're just getting started. Albertville is no stranger to tornadoes. In 1908, a tornado that's posthumously been rated an EF5, struck the heart of the city in downtown, leaving it destroyed, killing 30 people, and injuring 150 (encyclopediaofalabama.org). 101 years later, to the date, an EF3 tornado ravished areas of the city, again, picking up homes in one neighborhood of Albertville and leaving them in the middle of the street; many other homes and businesses were completely destroyed. Thankfully, there were no deaths caused by that storm. Just a few years later, the deadly tornadic outbreak that wreaked havoc across the southeast and central US, and took the lives of 64 people in Tuscaloosa, AL, drastically affected Albertville and the Lake Guntersville area, just seven miles north of us.
Fast forward to today, and we've already been under two tornado warnings in Albertville this Spring. Both times, there were a number of tornado sirens within the city limits that did not sound; this caused panic and significant concern for several citizens. City officials and Albertville Police Department personnel sought quotes from communications companies who specialize in public safety equipment like radios, dispatch software, and emergency notification systems (i.e., weather sirens). There are nine tornado sirens within the City of Albertville, To bring each siren, even those that were working properly, up to the latest most up to date technology, and repair the ones that were malfunctioning, would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and doing so, we learned, would not even guarantee that they would all be still be working a day later. Tornado sirens are outdoor emergency warning systems. They sit out, elevated, in the elements, rain, snow, sleet, lightning, and wind, 365 days out of the year. As a matter of fact, our siren on Whitesville Road randomly turned itself on a couple days ago in the middle of a beautiful, sunny day. After having it tested, we were told it had been struck by lightning. This could, and can, happen to all of our weather sirens on any given day, whether we've just spent $300,000 to repair them or not. The problem is, tornado sirens are antiquated in most all areas of the country, and especially in the southeast. They are Cold War Era technology, not made for what they're being used for now. The parts that are needed to "fix" the dated sirens in most southern cities aren't even made anymore, thus, they have to be completely refurbished and reworked with today's software and technology, which brings the costly price tag of repairing them.
What most people don't understand is that sirens were never meant to warn people indoors that a tornado is coming. They are outdoor emergency warning systems meant to alert hikers on walking trails, water sport motorists, and farmers in rural areas that danger was headed their way. They still serve a purpose in many rural areas where cell and internet service is limited or nonexistent, but for the majority of us, especially in the city limits of Albertville, tornado sirens simply are not the best way to be warned of severe weather and should never be relied on to alert folks of bad weather.
A number of press releases can be found across the internet from municipalities across the southeast, like Pelham, AL, who have announced they will be phasing their tornado sirens out for these very reasons. Still, even with it being the recommendation of weather experts and with many other cities and counties removing tornado sirens, if people can see them, they still rely on them. Even in 2019 when nearly everyone has a smartphone and most have the means to purchase a $30 weather radio. It's one of those "this is how it's always been" mentalities. Meanwhile, people are dying waiting to hear these things that weren't even designed to be heard in doors in the first place, especially if a roaring storm is right on top of residents.
Some Albertville citizens have taken to Facebook over the past few weeks to share their disdain for the Mayor and city officials not repairing their weather sirens before tornado season arrived. Think about this; these are the very individuals who are using their smartphones to post to Facebook as they get upset and panic over a weather siren in disrepair, but don't want to download a free weather application that will actually work when it's supposed to and wake them up from their sleep, or, purchase a NOAA Weather Radio that, often times, will sound minutes before tornado sirens will, as they are alerted directly from the National Weather Service.
It's an uphill battle, but it's 2019, and to ensure Albertville Residents are as safe as they can possibly be, and as educated about proper ways to receive severe weather alerts, the city communications team and city officials, partnered with Marshall County EMA, are taking a stand. Hundreds of NOAA Weather Radios have been ordered and delivered to city hall. After being programmed Monday by Albertville Fire and Rescue personnel, they will begin being distributed to home bound elderly through Albertville Senior Center and Meals on Wheels volunteers who transport meals, daily, to those who are confined to their homes and receive low incomes. We will also be reviewing Albertville's garbage exemption list of residents on fixed incomes who may only receive social security checks and other forms of limited income to ensure they receive these radios, as well. In an effort to educate the public on the importance of weather applications on smartphones, Albertville Fire and Rescue, along with Albertville Police Department, will be helping anyone who visits their respective departments needing aid or a crash course in downloading and running smartphone emergency notification systems. For more information, citizens can read a recent press release, included at the end of this blog post, detailing recommended free apps and further information on NOAA Weather Radios as well as a new mass alerting software Marshall County EMA is in the process of implementing.
It is our hope that moving towards potentially removing tornado sirens will not only be of monetary relief towards tax paying citizens, but most importantly, make our city more safe, and more prepared to protect ourselves from severe weather in the future.
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| Downtown Albertville Tornado Damage April 24, 1908 http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/m-8037 |
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| Tornado Siren http://www.madisoncountyema.com/Siren.htm |
What most people don't understand is that sirens were never meant to warn people indoors that a tornado is coming. They are outdoor emergency warning systems meant to alert hikers on walking trails, water sport motorists, and farmers in rural areas that danger was headed their way. They still serve a purpose in many rural areas where cell and internet service is limited or nonexistent, but for the majority of us, especially in the city limits of Albertville, tornado sirens simply are not the best way to be warned of severe weather and should never be relied on to alert folks of bad weather.
Weather experts and meteorologists like, James Spann, of ABC 33/40 out of Birmingham, have been vocal for years about the need for Alabamians to change how they think about weather safety and preparedness, and, in turn, not to rely on tornado sirens to protect themselves and their families. Just last week, a news story on AL.com quoted Spann saying, “We tell people, ‘Don’t even think about relying on a siren.’ It’s World War I technology and unfortunately to this day that’s how a lot of Alabamians think” they will be notified about a tornado, Spann told AL.com. “It’s a last resort. And they serve a purpose, but they reach a limited number of people outdoors. I think it has killed hundreds over the last 50 years where people think they’re going to hear a siren and it’s going to wake them up. We got to fight that battle.” The article went on to stress the importance of NOAA Weather Radios and smartphone apps stating, "'Every home, every business, every house of worship has to have a NOAA weather radio,' Spann said, estimating that fewer than 10 percent of state households have one. Along with weather radios, the public could be alerted to weather emergencies through their cell phones. Wireless emergency alerts are enabled by default, but Spann also recommended downloading dedicated apps that tailor warnings based on a phone user’s GPS coordinates. The meteorologist noted that some governments are turning away from siren-based notifications because they are expensive to maintain and was hopeful that EMAs and other related agencies in Alabama would follow suit.'I really do think that more counties and more municipalities are going to really think about are we putting money down the drain with these sirens when its 2019,' he said."
A number of press releases can be found across the internet from municipalities across the southeast, like Pelham, AL, who have announced they will be phasing their tornado sirens out for these very reasons. Still, even with it being the recommendation of weather experts and with many other cities and counties removing tornado sirens, if people can see them, they still rely on them. Even in 2019 when nearly everyone has a smartphone and most have the means to purchase a $30 weather radio. It's one of those "this is how it's always been" mentalities. Meanwhile, people are dying waiting to hear these things that weren't even designed to be heard in doors in the first place, especially if a roaring storm is right on top of residents.
Some Albertville citizens have taken to Facebook over the past few weeks to share their disdain for the Mayor and city officials not repairing their weather sirens before tornado season arrived. Think about this; these are the very individuals who are using their smartphones to post to Facebook as they get upset and panic over a weather siren in disrepair, but don't want to download a free weather application that will actually work when it's supposed to and wake them up from their sleep, or, purchase a NOAA Weather Radio that, often times, will sound minutes before tornado sirens will, as they are alerted directly from the National Weather Service.
It's an uphill battle, but it's 2019, and to ensure Albertville Residents are as safe as they can possibly be, and as educated about proper ways to receive severe weather alerts, the city communications team and city officials, partnered with Marshall County EMA, are taking a stand. Hundreds of NOAA Weather Radios have been ordered and delivered to city hall. After being programmed Monday by Albertville Fire and Rescue personnel, they will begin being distributed to home bound elderly through Albertville Senior Center and Meals on Wheels volunteers who transport meals, daily, to those who are confined to their homes and receive low incomes. We will also be reviewing Albertville's garbage exemption list of residents on fixed incomes who may only receive social security checks and other forms of limited income to ensure they receive these radios, as well. In an effort to educate the public on the importance of weather applications on smartphones, Albertville Fire and Rescue, along with Albertville Police Department, will be helping anyone who visits their respective departments needing aid or a crash course in downloading and running smartphone emergency notification systems. For more information, citizens can read a recent press release, included at the end of this blog post, detailing recommended free apps and further information on NOAA Weather Radios as well as a new mass alerting software Marshall County EMA is in the process of implementing.
It is our hope that moving towards potentially removing tornado sirens will not only be of monetary relief towards tax paying citizens, but most importantly, make our city more safe, and more prepared to protect ourselves from severe weather in the future.
To: Sand Mountain Reporter April
17, 2019
Contact: Robin Lathan, Communications
Specialist
For Immediate Release: Albertville Encourages
Citizens to Rely on NOAA Weather Radios,
Smartphone Apps Over Tornado Sirens
for Emergency Notifications
The City of Albertville and Marshall
County are aware that we have weather sirens in our communities that are not
working properly, some are not working at all. We understand that this can be
great cause for concern for some of our citizens. It is our desire to change
the way our residents think about weather sirens, in hopes that our citizens
have the right tools necessary to be as weather aware and safe as possible
during severe weather events. The following is a quote from ABC 33/40
Meteorologist, James Spann, featured in a news story on AL.com today called,
“Alabama Weather Experts Warn of Dangers of Relying on Tornado Sirens”, “We tell people,
‘Don’t even think about relying on a siren.’ It is World War I technology and unfortunately,
to this day that is how a lot of Alabamians think they will be notified about a
tornado. “It’s a last resort. And they serve a purpose, but they reach a
limited number of people outdoors. I think it has killed hundreds over the last
50 years where people think they’re going to hear a siren and it’s going to
wake them up. We got to fight that battle.” Sirens are outdoor emergency
notification systems. They were never meant to warn anyone indoors.
After public safety
and city officials met with Marshall County EMA Director, Anita McBurnett,
today, we are all in agreement that weather sirens certainly still serve a
purpose in rural areas of our county that have no cell phone or internet
service, and around some parts of Lake Guntersville and Lake Guntersville State
Park, where many outdoor activities take place daily; however, for citizens
within the city limits of our municipalities to be depending on these
antiquated sirens, many of which are in disrepair, when there is such better
technology available at their fingertips to protect themselves and their
families is a problem we want to do everything within our power to correct.
The Marshall County EMA is in a testing and configuration
phase of software they have purchased that will soon be available to
municipalities with best in class notification capability for emergency weather
events. This software will have the ability to alert citizens via landlines as
well as cell phones, email accounts, and other avenues. As soon as this program
is ready to be discussed further and available for use, we will work with the
EMA and our surrounding community public safety officials to most conveniently
and feasibly get all of our residents registered for the program.
As of today, we have ordered hundreds of NOAA Weather Radios
through Midland, that will be delivered to us in the coming days. We will be
distibuting these to our elderly homebound through Albertville Senior Center, volunteers
who transport meals to our aging homebound, daily, and Albertville Police and
Fire Departments, to individuals that are in need. We are also reviewing the
city’s garbage exemption list for those with extremely limited incomes that
rely solely on social security checks. If you are aware of someone within
Albertville city limits who is in imminent need of a weather radio, please feel
free to let us know, however, the individual will be vetted to ensure these
free devices end up in the hands of those who are truly in need and cannot
purchase one on their own.
Every home in Albertville and, Marshall County, alike, need
to invest in a NOAA Weather Radio; these will, more times than not, alert you
minutes before tornado sirens can, anyway, as they are powered directly from
the National Weather Service. They can be purchased for approximately $35 to
$40. The Albertville Chamber of Commerce has reached out to retailers within
our city who carry NOAA Weather Radios and has encouraged them to stock up.
Those business owners we have spoken with, personally, this morning, have
assured us they will do the same. Free smartphone applications (apps) you can
download to your smartphone are imperative as well. Free apps from local
weather teams that you can download are as follows: Alabama SAF-T-NET
(Baron’s), WHNT Live Alert 19, WAFF FIRST ALERT Storm Team Weather, ABC 33/40
Weather App. AL.com provided a list of preferred free and paid (most all under
$10) smartphone apps, included James Spann’s top picks. That list can be found
by visiting: https://www.al.com/news/2019/04/6-best-weather-apps-including-james-spanns-picks.html.
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