Pittsburg Residents Will Have Upgraded Storm Siren System Soon
By: Drew Moore
Updated: April 27, 2012
PITTSBURG, KS -- An improvement which is desperately needed after some sirens didn't sound when severe weather struck back in February. Bill Beasley is the Public Works Director for the city of Pittsburg, and approached the city commissioners to upgrade the sirens. "It's not that our current system isn't working. It's not broke, it's functioning," Beasley explains. "We're just enhancing what we have and making it better."
Weaknesses in the current warning system were exposed when 100 mile per hour straight line winds swept through Pittsburg in February. Because the city lost power, only 5 of the 13 storm sirens worked. The 5 sirens failed because there wasn't a back up battery system in place.
Beasley says the city will replace 3 older sirens, and install battery back-up power to 5 existing sirens. The upgrades will make sure all Pittsburg residents will be warned in case severe weather is coming. "When we're completed all 13 sirens will have battery back up, in the event we have a power outage." Beasley says.
City officials hope to have the new sirens and battery's installed by July.
