He says Springfield would need ten sirens to cover the city, and possibly up to 16 alarms. That could cost between $200,000 and $320,000. Bodenmiller also questions how effective they are, and believes that a "reverse-911" system is better.
Bodenmiller does not think sirens are as effective as some experts believe. He says there is a false sense of security if they don't sound, and might be ignored if they sound too often.
The city and county use a reverse-911 system, called Wide Area Rapid Notification or WARN. It can be used for any emergency, such as tornadoes, missing children, boil notices or evacuations, according toLisa D'Allessandris, director of the Clark County Emergency Management Agency. It was used last week in New Carlisle for a tornado warning.
Emergency dispatchers can use the system to dial any landline in Clark County, she said, and play a recorded message. It also can call only certain neighborhoods and any registered cell phone.
People can sign up by calling (937) 521-2179 or at several local government websites, or by clicking here.
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