Mobile County To Abandon Siren System

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. —The Mobile County Emergency Management Agency’s outdoor warning sirens will not be repaired or replaced, and the system will cease operating this year, according to the agency’s authority board. “In the past, the outdoor warning sirens were the only means of alerting local residents to tornados or hazardous materials events, but current technology provides faster, more efficient, more cost-effective and much more accurate location-based warnings,” explained the board’s President and Saraland Fire Rescue Chief of Operations Shayne Lovitte. The decision to phase out the system was based on a cost-benefit analysis of updating the operating technology and aligning the system to current population centers. The 47 operational sirens cover less than 10% of Mobile County and use radio-based technology that is increasingly difficult to repair. “With advancements in technology, it is time we redirect our resources from the outdoor siren system to faster, more efficient warning systems. We are now able to issue warnings to broader audiences and to citizens in specific geographic areas, with messages that clearly identify threats and provide directions for how to take swift action and get to safety. These systems are a better use of our collective resources and will provide the greatest level of protection for our community moving forward,” added Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson.