U.S. Response:  FEMA Considering Sirens to Warn of Terrorist Attack

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency is considering whether to use Cold War-era sirens, originally intended to warn of impending nuclear attack, for use in providing terrorism warnings, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, June 6).

A number of cities, such as Chicago and Dallas, have upgraded their outdoor warning systems to be able to broadcast voice announcements, AP reported.  The siren systems could be particularly useful in alerting those who are not watching television or listening to radio.

“If you’ve got a weather radio in your house, it doesn’t do much for you when you’re at the ballpark,” said Kerry Wagnon, director of public safety capital projects in Oklahoma City.

In addition to sirens, officials are also considering broadcasting terrorism warnings via electronic text messaging and through a reverse 911 system that would telephone people, said Jo’Ellen Countee of the Washington Emergency Management Agency.  “A lot of people want sirens — people who are old enough to remember sirens,” Countee said (Tim Talley, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, July 15).

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