Metro Nashvilles Outdoor Weather Warning Siren System Upgrade

Metro Tornado Warning Siren System

Better. Bigger. Broader.

Warning Siren History1998 Nashville takes a direct hit, leaving one person dead and millions of dollars worth of damage

2002 - Metro receives HUD Grant funding to construct a 70 site Outdoor Weather Warning System

2003 System operational

2007/8 3 siren sites added in Forrest Hills and Oak Hill bringing the total number to 73

System Upgrade Timeline2012 - Mayor Dean submits a FY2013 Capital Improvements request for $2 million

Council approves the request June 2012

System Upgrade TimelineRFP released July 2012 for upgrade and enhancement of 73 existing and installation of 20 new sirens

Contract is awarded to Federal Signal November 2012

Project HighlightsAll equipment will be replaced with new

20 additional sirens will expand coverage area

Mechanical siren instead of electronic loudspeaker

Lower frequency sound will be easier to hear and will travel farther

New Site SelectionIn 2002, Metro received grant funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to build an Outdoor Weather Warning Siren System that specified individual siren locations based on the 2000 census data, and outdoor population expectations.

The 2013 upgrade of the system combines the same methodology and the latest 2010 census data to recommend the new locations, as the system is expanded to cover additional areas of the county.

New Sirens, New Sound

Old SirenFederal Eclipse 8 Siren

During the TransitionFebruary 27th Council Briefing

Last week of February Siren installation begins with new sites

March 7th New sirens on-line for activation

April 30th Estimated Project Completion

From March 7th through Project Completion BOTH Systems will be active and either sound may be heard until the last siren is replaced.System TestingWhen weather permits, the system is tested for one minute at noon on the first Saturday of the month

The system tests itself twice each day and reports any problems to OEM staff

Individual sirens can be tested to verify repairsActivation and OperationOEM Operations manages and activates the system

Sirens are controlled via Metros 800MHz Radio System

There are two activation points, one at each OEM dispatch center

The sirens are only activated for an official Tornado Warning for Davidson County

A tornado warning for any part of the county will result in all sirens being activated

Sirens will sound for 3 minutes out of every 10 during an active warning, i.e. there would be 3 activations during a 30 minute warning period

Activation and Operation

NOAA Weather RadioA Tornado Siren is only intended to alert the OUTDOOR population to take shelter and get more information

Everyone is encouraged to have a battery powered NOAA Weather Radio available in their home for the latest information

We Need Your Help To Get The Word Out!!Other Resources Available:

Information kits provided to all Council Members

All information will be posted online at www.oem.nashville.gov

OEM Staff is available for community meetings

Metro 3 video will be available this week on the OEM web page and YouTube

NOAA.govThank You!