Tornado siren reccomendation to my city

[conestogo_flood]

Alright, I don't know if you remember from thr May 31 post under USA weather, but we had a tornado warning, and the power was out. So, almost everyone had no warning, and a funnel cloud almost touched down in west Waterloo. A few of you were surprised we had no tornado sirens, and I have been crying to the city for years now for some.

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Hello,
For the past three years I have been a resident of Waterloo, and I do take public safety to heart. Okay, so over the time I have lived here, there has been many tornado warnings, but no real warning system. I had just read in the news paper during emergency preparedness week that a few towns in the county may use their sirens as tornado alarms, including Elmira.

Usually, people would hear about the tornado on the radio or on The Weather Network, but last Wednesday proved that we need something more to keep the citizens of Waterloo safe in the event of a weather emergency. If you are aware, the power went out across my area, and the storm turned violent.

I know a few things about weather, thunderstorms and tornadoes are a hobby of mine, and I just thought the storm was getting nasty and that I should move to the basement. The storm was a violent one for sure, there was hail and gusty winds; and the loudest thunder I have ever heard.

After the storm had passed, I turned on my radio which was announcing the tornado warning for Waterloo Region was cancelled. I didn't think much of it, I was just glad nothing hit my house. But, I called my mother who works near Northfield Dr. and asked her if she heard if there was a tornado, because I heard emergency vehicles. She had her radio on, but she did not hear of a tornado warning. The power at her work was only out for a few minutes.

I called a few friends from around the city, and not one of them knew there was a tornado warning. I had asked if they had a window open at all during the storm, and 90% said yes.

In the weather community, tornado sirens are almost a must, it is a common belief every city from the Rockies east to the Appalachians south to Tennessee and north to the Ottawa Valley has tornado sirens, but when it was discussed why I had not heard the tornado sirens during the warning, many people were almost outraged. By the way, I am talking about this weather community http://www.storm2k.org/wx/ . Alright, well I had explained when I had questioned Waterloo Region and the City of Waterloo before about tornado sirens, the responses I got were tornado sirens are only needed in places like Oklahoma where there is a lot of tornadoes. Michigan and Ohio have tornado sirens, even a few cities in western New York. Including Sarnia, which I believe is the pioneer city of Ontario to show the province the need for outdoor warning systems.

Now, lets revise the situation. The power was out, there was a tornado warning and no one had any way to know, but were probably watching the storm from windows and front porches. Suppose a tornado did touch down in the city... what do you think would have happened? This is a major fear of mine, I don't think it is right for select people in the government to decide whether a tornado warning siren is needed or not because they have no real education of the southern Ontario tornado threat.

This could have been a catastrophe, it was a blinding storm, so the tornado would have been rain-wrapped. No one would see it coming. It would hit their homes and away they would go.

Just because tornadoes do not occur all too often in Waterloo Region, does not...repeating...does not mean we do not need tornado sirens. I did some research, and since 2000 Waterloo Region has had 12 tornado warnings and two tornadoes. Two, it doesn't sound like much, but not every storm produces a tornado. We should be counting our blessings it is only two... for now. Of course, it will go up. It could be this year, it could be next. It certainly could have been Wednesday May 31, 2006. The death toll caused by tornadoes could have gone up for Ontario. Since 1918, there has been over 640 recorded tornadoes in southern Ontario, including an F3 tornado in the location of Woolwich Township in the 1960s.

It's just... I don't know. But the nightmare scenario you often pass off in your mind could have occured on Wednesday. No one knew.

You might not think the public would support tornado sirens here, but that is because the tornado threat isn't overhyped. There is no real tornado education in southern Ontario, but the threat is very very real.

Also, it might sound like a lot of money to install tornado sirens, I'd say Waterloo would need anywhere from 10-30 siren units to cover the city with full coverage. Depending on what tornado siren you buy, the cost will vary. Sarnia, they have Acoustic Technology Inc. sirens. they cost about $5,000 per unit. Those sirens can be heard for about 1 mile, if more, and they do just as good of a job as a siren made by Whelen or Federal Signal (Elmira owns) at $20,000. ATI sirens are electronic, so they cost less. They can be sounded individually, or all at once. They also can be activated by a signal, or by pushing a button.

Seriously, you have to consider. We should think of the May 31, 2006 as a "fire drill", or "tornado drill" if you may, for what could actually happen. We need to be prepared, and we are slowly getting there, but much much more could be done. We do need outdoor warning, people might be at the park or in a parking lot during a tornado. It may sound hypathetical, but southern Ontarians don't take the weather threat as serious, because the local government isn't doing what they can to prepare us. I think that this years emergency preparedness week went well, I especially enjoyed the flyer I received by the Kitchener Record. Now, I don't know what is to do with what, but last year I reccomended the Waterloo Region emergency manager to think of a way to get the word out about emergency preparedness, I even told him that a flyer in the news paper would be a good idea. Though, I do not know if I played a roll in it.

So, please consider this email, I am just a concerned citizen who see's this cities vurnerability to tornadoes.

Mike Chambers

[dean]

that's awesome you're trying to get this for your town. i know you've been trying for quite a while, maybe they'll finally listen.

[Regit]

My city has tornado sirens. There is one slight problem though. No one actually sounds them during a warning. Oh well.

[Brent]

My city has tornado sirens. There is one slight problem though. No one actually sounds them during a warning. Oh well.

LOL, that's extremely helpful.

It's a great idea, but just as a note, outdoor sirens are meant for just that, people outdoors. Unless you live right next to one like me, your not going to hear it if your inside asleep or not paying attention.

[Regit]

My city has tornado sirens. There is one slight problem though. No one actually sounds them during a warning. Oh well.

LOL, that's extremely helpful.

It's a great idea, but just as a note, outdoor sirens are meant for just that, people outdoors. Unless you live right next to one like me, your not going to hear it if your inside asleep or not paying attention.

Good point. The only way to truly equip everyone is to give each one of them an indoor receiver with battery backup. That's not really realistic, just a best-case-scenario sort of thing. Of course, even if you did that, most people would never use them.

[conestogo_flood]

The benefit of tornado sirens here in southern Ontario...

Is people don't really do anything until there is a tornado warning. A thunderstorm means family time on the front porch, or sitting with the window open listening to the thunder and rain. It's completely different here than it is in the USA. People don't flock to the radio to listen. Our television stations don't do severe weather coverage. It is just life as normal to everything, except the weather service issued something that will probably go un-noticed. We don't have an EAS, and you cannot buy weather radios in Canada, even though EC installed the SAME network.

[conestogo_flood]

This was a big help... I guess tornado sirens are only needed in Oklahoma... according to the city.

Dear Mr. Chambers,

I am in receipt of your email dated June 4, 2006 suggesting that the City of Waterloo install warning sirens. I have also reviewed a similar email sent by you in August 2005, to which Fire Chief John deHooge sent a detailed reply about emergency services in the City of Waterloo. There is little to be added to his response, however I would be pleased to provide an update on the progress of the Community Emergency Management Program Committee (CEMPC) of which I am the Chair.

This committee continues to identify and evaluate possible emergency situations (including tornadoes). Responses have been developed, and training undertaken. We have access to, and utilize, our extensive resources including professionals in various fields to ensure that the citizens of Waterloo will be well served in case of an emergency. As well as a city-wide plan, we work closely with the Region of Waterloo Emergency Planning Committee and Emergency Management Ontario. This pooling of resources and expertise enhances our own Emergency Management Plan (EMP) and ensures that we are on the right track.

The insert in The Record, as well as the information provided on the City of Waterloo website, offers suggestions to citizens of this city to create their own personal emergency preparedness plan. As a concerned and aware citizen, I hope that you have taken the time to develop a personalized survival kit, including radio batteries. The media and our extensive telephone networks continue to be the primary and preferred notification systems.

Sincerely,
Deputy Chief Andrew Lillico
Waterloo Fire Rescue
Headquarters, Station 2
470 Columbia St. W.
Waterloo ON N2T 2Y6

[tropicana]

I can't believe they discounted your plan for tornado sirens for the city of Waterloo. It is astonishing. They don't seem to concerned, especially seeing they recommended you get batteries for your radio...like I mean..thats a given.

Maybe it will take a disaster to wake up the officials of the community. We won't hope for a disaster...but it could happen during any storm season.

-justin-

[Jack8631]

I have to ask...if you were without electricity, would there have been power for the sirens?

Weather sirens are, by design, a warning mechanism for people that are caught outside during a severe weather event. They are not intended to be heard indoors. Personally, I would rather see the funding spent on warning sirens go towards the purchase or discount of NOAA weather radios for the entire community. Most good NOAA weather radios have a battery backup that will last 24 hours. If you are concerned about not receiving tornado warnings, I would invest in one.

[conestogo_flood]

I have a weather radio, with batteries. But, this city could have faced a disaster on May 31, 2006. A funnel cloud was only 200 feet from the ground over west Waterloo, some people said it dipped lower.

Sirens have battery back-up. The battery can allow the siren to be sounded for up to 12 hours, meaning it will work for 12 hours of battery life.

Here, thunderstorms mean opening windows to listen, or sitting on the porch. That is why tornado sirens would mean good, because people are attracted to the storms here. We should have sirens by now, many cities do here, and the small towns sound their fire sirens in weather emergencies. Just 15 kms north of here in the county Elmira has 3 tornado sirens. They were in the news paper. Elmira was almost hit on August 19, 2005 by an F2 tornado, it passed about 5 kms to the north though. Then the tornado skimmed Fergus, which has 2 tornado sirens.

This is just ridiculus. I know where to buy tornado sirens for low costs, I own one. Some how, I am going to ask the city if they will install it in the neighbourhood or something.

If the city wont do nothing, I will. I have had several fire departments offer me their old sirens-and Sarnia, Ontario said I could buy their 8 sirens that were replaced at the cost of $500 each siren. If I bring the sirens to the city, maybe the donation would work.

Only time will tell.

[Jack8631]

You certainly have a good cause. Best of luck in your endeavors.

[azskyman]

Nice letter. Suggestion would be to find one, just one person on the city council or board who might consider this important. Begin teaming up with him or her to figure out ways to develop a plan to get the job done. If not now, someday. But don't let it lie.

Our town where I grew up installed tornado sirens the year after 24 of our citizens were killed by one. Most of them were children. 450 people were injured.

Theat was 39 years ago. They still have them and still test them the second Tuesday of every month. Somehow they found the money.

Got any pictures of Edmonton to show them?

Good luck, and remember most of all. Stay professional in your approach and understand it may take a long long time to get this done.

[conestogo_flood]

Got any pictures of Edmonton to show them?

More local here...

In the 1940's a large tornado hit Windsor, Ontario killing something like 17-20.

In 1953 an F4 tornado tore through downtown Sarnia, Ontario pop.75,000 killing 2-5.

In the 1960's an F3 tornado hit Waterloo Region just north of here severely damaging Floradale pop.200.

On August 7, 1979 an F4 tornado tore through Woodstock, Ontario pop.50,000 killing 7. There was also an F3 just north of there from the same storm.

May 31, 1985 13 tornadoes tore through southern Ontario killing 12. There was two F4 tornadoes, one lasting 107 km, killing 4. The other F4 hit the city of Barrie pop.50,000 at the time; killing 8.

April 26, 1996 an F4 tornado hit just north of here in Wellington County severely damaging the town of Arthur pop.5,000.

All those locations are within 200 kms or 100 miles of me. The Woodstock tornado is only 20 minutes south of here.

Also; on May 24, 2004; after 2 days of tornadoes here an F0 tornado touched town in Waterloo and lasted about 5 minutes.

Also, major cities in southern Ontario to have been hit in the past 30 years...

Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham, London, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford, Woodstock, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Toronto, Barrie, Markham, Pickering, Ottawa.