By Jerry Hart

Critical Emergency Alert Systems, LLC

Origin of Tornado Sirens

Result of air raid siren (WWII)

Chrysler Air Raid Siren

World’s largest sound signaling device

Very common in most US metro areas in the 1950s and 1960s

Uses a 331ci Hemi V8 pushing 180hp

Cranks out 138 dB of sound

Tone was audible up to 30 miles away

Early History

First official tornado forecast (and warning) made by USAF Capt. Robert C. Miller and Major Ernest Fawbush on March 25, 1948.

1950 the Weather Bureau revokes their ban on the word “tornado” and allows public warnings to be issued

Early History

FCC banned television and radio from broadcasting tornado warnings on-air

1954 meteorologist Harry Volkman broadcast first televised tornado warning on WKY-TV in Oklahoma City

The FCC eventually lifted the ban on broadcasting warnings

What is a Tornado Warning?

Tornado has been spotted

Doppler indicates storm circulation which can produce tornado

Safety precautions must be taken immediately

Who Issues a Tornado Warning?

The National Weather Service is the primary agency to issue a tornado warning

Purpose / Design of Tornado Sirens

Tornado warning sirens were never designed to be heard inside of a house or building…

Myth or Fact???

How Much Warning Time Did Sirens Offer to the Public?

Must be absolutely sure tornado was eminent

Warning then issued by the National Weather Service

Individual communities use their criteria for sounding the alarm

Edmond Fire Department

Technology Updates: TV and Radio Weather Announcements

Stations received weather data via wire service, including watches and warnings

Wire data had to be “weeded out” for the pertinent impending weather

Meteorologist had to physically plot warning area

TV crew would then put meteorologist on camera, issue tone warning and cut away from current programming

At the ready, this process took approximately 10 minutes after the NWS issued the warning

Wakeup Call to Broadcasters

1991 the NWS monitored all major TV stations in Oklahoma City and calculated the “average” warning time close to 20 minutes instead of the 5-10 the stations thought!

Things had to change!

Challenge Was Given

General Manager of KOCO-TV 5 challenged me to find a way to significantly improve this time.

Twenty minutes was totally unacceptable!

The Solution

The approach had to be completely different from the past

1992 and personal computers were beginning to be commonplace

If data is coming to wire service then it should be able to go directly to our PC

Birth of First Alert

In 1992 – 1993, I developed the first computerized weather warning system for television, First Alert.

Birth of First Alert

First Alert: The development and creation process

How it works – “the logistics”

First Alert forever changed the way severe weather warnings were delivered to a TV audience

The Ultimate Recognition

Story of a farmer from Mooreland, OK

Birth of Digital Signage and CEA

Combining our marketing and advertising expertise with emergency weather alerts

Birth of Digital Signage and CEA

Critical Emergency Alerts (CEA)

How it works

How unique is what we are doing?

The FAA said it all…

Critical Emergency Alert Systems, LLC

Bringing the most advanced tornado warnings to the public

Why “Area of Immediate Concern”?

Your location is notified in a matter of SECONDS

Sirens

Strobe Lights

Desktop warning systems

Normal County-Based Warning

An Area of Immediate Concern

What Went Wrong in Joplin?

“A majority of Joplin, MO residents either ignored or were slow to react to the first warning sirens about a massive and deadly tornado in May, partially because of decades of false alarms, the government said.” -- Associated Press, 9/20/2011

What Went Wrong in Joplin?

Majority of residents did not immediately seek shelter upon hearing the initial warning “All sirens mean is there is a little more water in the gutter…” Joplin

resident

Warnings lacked a way to accurately portray that immediate action was necessary “The sirens are sounded in one, 3-minute burst and then shut off. There

was not a way to immediately discern the magnitude of the threat. Several interviewed expressed confusion with the single siren thinking the threat was over once the sirens had ceased.”

Vast majority of residents have widespread disregard for tornado sirens “We are bombarded with the sirens so often that we don’t pay attention.

They even go off for just dark clouds…” Joplin resident

No False Warnings

Normal warnings are by county

CEA’s are defined by a polygon by the NWS

Those in the polygon are in the “Area of Immediate Concern”.

TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!!!

Red Dog Shelters & Critical Emergency Alert Systems, LLC

What happens if your facility is issued a CEA?

A warning is useless unless you can get to a shelter immediately!

By Jerry Hart, Owner

Critical Emergency Alert Systems, LLC