After Sounding Siren for Flood Warning, Agnes Scott Reviews Protocol
Decatur Metro | September 29, 2009 | 8:40 amAssociate Dean of Students, Michelle Hall, forwards this official response from Agnes Scott’s Interim Communications Director, Jennifer Owen, after I inquired to the reasons for activating the tornado siren for a flash flood warning late in the evening on September 20th.
The Agnes Scott siren was activated around midnight on Sept. 20, when the dispatcher on duty received an emergency weather notification from DeKalb County. Members of the college and Decatur community are accustomed to hearing the siren during a tornado warning, but there may be other rare occasions when it is activated. While it was the dispatcher’s intent was to alert people to the dangers of the severe weather, we understand the nature of threat may not have been clearly communicated and that some members of our community were alarmed unnecessarily as a result. The college is reviewing its protocol to ensure that the use of the siren is always in line with the nature of the threat.
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I really appreciate AS sounding the alarm. It, at least, gets me to turn on the radio to see what’s going on in the area. Ever since DeKalb Co sold there system to another county (IMO, Stupid Move) I have relied on the AS system. Thanks.
PS: Thanks to DM for all that you do. I rely on you, too !!
I worry about the alarm going off for an event, such as flooding, where it’s totally unclear what action the hearer should take. In many places a flash flood warning would make sense and might save a life, but since Agnes Scott College already sits on just about the highest ground around, even the people who heard the message really didn’t have anything to do to make themselves safer. On the other hand, those who assumed this was a tornado warning and found out later that it wasn’t, are just going to be more likely to ignore the siren when there really is a tornado. The more you use the siren, and the more, less deadly reasons it goes off, the less good it will do in a true, actionable emergency.
Customarily, the reaction at Agnes Scott to a tornado warning would be to go into the basement. I no longer live on campus, but wonder the dangers this confusion may present in case of a flood.
tornado–basement
floods-attic
two different responses, same siren. glad agnes scott is looking in to it
For awhile, I remember the siren, er, talking. At least there was a recorded message that said something to the effect of “TORNADO WARNING, PLEASE TAKE COVER.” I haven’t heard that in some time, though.
Also, ASC has a system in place where it can send automated text messages & recorded phone calls to students in the event of emergencies – such as this. I personally didn’t get one during this event, but I’m studying abroad at the moment (though yes, my US number is still working and ASC has sent messages to it before).
The automated phone messages went out 24 hours later.
That was perhaps even less useful than the siren.
Glad to hear someone is looking into a better solution.
I was referring to Dekalb’s reverse 911 system not AS.
Decatur will soon have its own siren system with 4 locations throughout the City.