Goshen is trying to reach out to various county, state and federal government agencies to see if they can help provide funding for an overhaul of their tornado siren system. (WSBT photo)
Story Created:
Nov 10, 2009 at 5:47 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 10, 2009 at 5:50 PM EST
GOSHEN — It is designed to warn people in the event of an emergency, but Goshen now needs to overhaul its tornado warning system. Plans include nearly doubling the number of sirens in the city.
Within the past year, the city tested the current warning sirens around town. The ten in use were installed more than 25 years ago.
"A year ago, we we're having multiple failures on multiple siren sites, and at that point we started investigating what it was going to take to repair those sirens,” Said Dustin Sailor, city utility engineer. “And we determined that they have technically reached their age limit."
The problem is not with the actual sirens, which are very durable. It has more to do with the electronics that run them.
"They're old analog boards, and we frankly can't get some of those parts anymore," said Goshen Fire Department Chief Dan Sink.
As the city has grown, installation of the sirens has not kept pace.
"This system was installed in the early 90s, and Goshen has grown quite a bit since then. And for optimal coverage we like to go to 16 to 18 sirens located throughout the community," said Sink.
Finding the money to repair and expand the system is now on the front burner.
The city is trying to reach out to various county, state and federal government agencies to see if they can help provide funding for an overhaul of this system.
"I know that the Homeland Security funds are tight out there,” said Jennifer Tobey of Elkhart County Emergency Management. “But anything I can do from an emergency management perspective to assist with replacing, upgrading or providing new tornado sirens for the city of Goshen, I'm on board 100 percent."
"I live on the south side of Goshen,” said resident Denny Miller. “I have heard the sirens in the past, but I don't always hear them, or I am not paying attention to them, I guess, and I do think it is important that they are there to warn people."
The city is not sure what it could cost to upgrade and add sirens. That will be determined when bids are put out for the project.
