Warnings

I was reading the Star-Telegram just now and was struck by an announcement by North Richland Hills (one of the many cities here in the DFW metroplex) that they will no longer be using warning sirens as the main method to announce bad weather, hazardous-materials spills, drinking water contamination, or vast utility outages.

The city is adopting a system called CodeRED, which announces emergencies through a phone call to those who have signed up to receive these calls. This system will cost North Richland Hills $15,000 the first year and $10,000 every year after, and that's at a discount rate.

I have to wonder how badly this system is needed. The news, as crappy as they've become in the last few years, still do a pretty good job of telling us about chemical spills and power outages. Are these phone calls going to give any information about when the emergencies they announce will be taken care of? If not, what's the point of spending tax-payer money on it?

I don't feel that we can ever get rid of the warning sirens. Living in Tornado Alley makes them a necessity. When Fort Worth and Arlington were hit by a couple of tornados in 2000, a friend of mine and her 4-year-old son were in her car on a freeway in Fort Worth. Needless to say, she wasn't at home to receive a warning call. She heard the sirens, and immediately found temporary shelter. For all the people away from home, those who don't have cell phones, and those who just haven't got around to signing up for the service, we must keep the sirens.

So, now I'm back to my orginal question. How badly is this system needed?