Outdoor Warning Siren System Replacement
In 2021, Rowlett residents approved a $1.3M bond project to replace the City's ten American Signal Corporation T-128 sirens with a new system.
SafetyCom was then awarded a contract to install a Whelen system comprising of nine WPS-2910 and eight WPS-2906 sirens across the City. This solar-powered system was designed to finally provide 70dB sound coverage to 100% of the City and provide enhanced coverage to the City's five major outdoor venues (using the WPS-2906 sirens).
The new system is state-of-the-art with a suite of features that are like no other in the country. These features include Vaisala-integrated lightning alerts, PTZ cameras, and weather stations.
Weather Stations
Orion 536 Model
Weather stations will provide high quality remote sensing capabilities. They will be mounted on a siren pole approximately 30ft above ground. While only five were included in the original project scope, the system design will allow more to be added in the future, if necessary.
PTZ Cameras
RISE 4260HD
PTZ cameras mounted approximately 35ft above ground on each of the seventeen siren poles will provide remote storm spotting and all-hazards impact assessment capabilities. This will enhance the OWS activation decision-making process and enable a more effective deployment of response resources. When not in use by OEM personnel, the cameras, accessible from the City's 9-1-1 communications center and most of its public safety vehicles, can be used to provide increased situational awareness for traffic incidents, structure fires, criminal activity, and other incidents.
Lightning Detection and Alerting
Vaisala
With Vaisala lightning detection product integration, the sirens largely dedicated to provide enhanced warning coverage for the City's largest outdoor venues will be capable of providing tone- and voice-based alerts for lightning. This feature will be set up for all sirens, but is meant to only be used with those specific sirens.
Additional Initiatives
As part of the OWS replacement project, I also directed the implementation of a sound sample collection request program for residents and the posting of all OWS activations, including tests and warnings. This has helped to reduce concerns from residents regarding OWS coverage and warning activations.
OWS System Activations webpage
