HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8657INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
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SUBJECT: Outdoor Warning System - Update
No. 8657
January 18, 2005
Page 1
The purpose of this report is to respond to Council's request for an update on the City's outdoor warning siren
system. Staff is pleased to report that the siren system is fully functional, however the final acceptance of the
system by the City is still pending. Recent silent testing and system -wide polls are showing no errors. The
contractor has completed the final adjustments to the system before the final system is conducted. These
adjustments included physical inspection of individual siren programming, controller software upgrades and
mobile controller enhancements. The City's Office of Emergency Management is currently awaiting favorable
weather conditions before conducting the final test. Prior to the acceptance of the system a final test is required
to ensure that the system is fully functional and will perform as the contractor indicated in the proposal. Staff
expects no issues as a result of the final acceptance testing.
The acceptance testing included audible testing of the sirens on a weekly basis during the month of October. The
sirens were tested three times during each weekly test, with activation lasting three minutes. The intention of this
rigorous testing was to ensure that the system could operate under strenuous conditions. Verification of the sirens
ating as proposed was accomplished with assistance of Code Compliance Officers, Amateur Radio operators,
Fire Department personnel. The field observations verified that the sirens were rotating and sounding as
intended. The Office of Emergency Management Staff continues to perform weekly silent tests to ensure that the
system is in an operational status. Any errors are reported to the contractor and problems are addressed in timely
manner.
Final Adjustments
1. Programming: The contractor completed a physical visit of each siren location for the purposes of
programming verification. During the acceptance period we discovered that a small percentage of sirens were
not programmed correctly, therefore when a system -wide command was sent not all sirens were operating as
instructed. All issues pertaining to individual programming have been resolved.
2. Controller Software Upgrades: The City of Fort Worth was the first system user to receive the current
version of siren software from Whelen (the City's siren system contractor). Currently Whelen is addressing
any system issues that the City has through software upgrades.
I Mobile Controller Enhancements: The mobile controller was sent back to Whelen for some system
enhancements and has now been returned. The new enhancements will allow OEM staff more flexibility if
the need should ever arise to activate from the field or if either activation points (EOC and Fire Alarm Office)
are unavailable.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
dePXF {�A, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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SUBJECT: Outdoor Warning System - Update
No. 8657
January 18, 2005
Page 2
The Emergency Management Staff is expected to complete siren acceptance testing within the next 30 days,
weather permitting. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Raymond Rivas,
Emergency Management Officer — Fire Department, at (817) 392 -6176.
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Charles R. Boswell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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