The current warning apparatus consists of a master control unit, run off of a laptop, which transmits the emergency signal to five siren towers located at strategic locations throughout the community. Each tower is fitted with at least eight sirens allowing for as much coverage as possible.
Recently, several areas have reported concerns about the audibility and volume of the system, with others reporting that they can not hear the sirens at all. Several of the sirens are no longer working as intended. According to meeting materials, city staff receive numerous calls a month in regards to the sirens.
Council members relayed their experiences with the system, with many speaking to audibility issues. On the beach it is hard to hear them over the sound of the waves. If you are in your home, they can’t be heard, especially over the sound of a tv or music. They also raised the point that the system could potentially scare confused visitors who are unaware of the sirens’ purpose.
Repairs to both the siren towers themselves as well as the laptop that controls the signal have become untenable over time. Replacements parts for the towers are no longer being produced. The laptop which interfaces with the master control unit is no longer working, but it cannot be replaced simply as the software which manages the system is no longer in production either. Since the laptop failing, city staff have been operating the system directly from the master unit with mixed results.
According to the city, replacement costs for the siren towers themselves are estimated at over $100,000 per tower making a full replacement of the system a huge financial burden for the city.
To that end, discussions over what to do with the old siren system were decisive and succinct.
“Get rid of them,” was the sentiment echoed by every council member in attendance, resulting in a unanimous motion to sunset the old siren system.
The replacement, thankfully, is already in place. The city already uses the CivicPlus Mass Notification System for providing emergency alerts, similar to the Everbridge system used by Coos County. Unless they opted out, residents were automatically enrolled via the city’s utility billing system when CivicPlus was first implemented. The system provides direct alerts via text, phone call and email and can be activated remotely without the need to access a central control unit.
The City is encouraging those who are not subscribed, who have changed their number, or are unsure of their status to either text Bandon to 38276, or visit bandon-or.gov/portal. Texting will sign you up for emergency notifications, but on the website, there are a number of other public notifications that you can opt into.
These include utility notifications for electric, water, sewer or other public works outages and changes. You can receive updates on upcoming community events at the library or Sprague Theatre. You can also receive updates from city government on meeting agendas, budget notices, updates from the planning department, or police alerts.
Thankfully, with another emergency notification system already in place, retiring the sirens will save the city repair costs and precious time in case of an actual emergency.
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