The commission signed off last week on a new computerized alert system to replace the current one used by the the Cullman County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), which required manual activation and lacked the capability to pinpoint storm paths.
“Our current equipment had crashed on us a while back, and we had gone to a backup; one that had been refurbished,” explained EMA director Phyllis Little.
“Our old system would set off all 42 sirens in Cullman County at one time, even if a storm was just affecting a small portion of the county. But the new system is tied in with the National Weather Service’s polygon system, which only issues alerts for areas where a storm is actually tracking.
“If there’s a tornado, for example, that’s headed toward Jones Chapel, West Point and Vinemont, then those are the areas where people would hear sirens. Folks in Hanceville wouldn’t hear a siren, since they wouldn’t be in the National Weather Service polygon for where that storm is heading.”
While the new system will allow for precise siren activation, it won’t change the alert pattern used to trigger weather radios. “This has absolutely no effect on weather radios at all,” said Little.
“If you own a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio, it’s still going to go off for everyone in Cullman County whenever there’s an alert,” she said. “Weather radios just aren’t at the point where they can be tied in with the polygon system — The technology just isn’t there. If there’s a tornado warning anywhere in Cullman County, you’re still going to hear about it on your weather radio.”
The new equipment, which cost approximately $11,000, is slated to be up and running within the next 30 days, said Little.
Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.
———
©2016 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)
Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com
