Joplin Wants Solar Powered Storm Warning Sirens
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Image by KTTS News
City officials in Joplin and the National Weather Service heard from many people how things could be made safer in the wake of the May 2011 twister that killed nearly 200 people and left thousands injured.
A two-fold approach is being looked at.
From a technical perspective Joplin Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer tells KTTS News they want to replace as many storm warning sirens as they can, and some will have to be replaced because they are over 50 years-old and could not stand up to the changes needed for solar power equipment.
Stammer says solar power would keep batteries charged should power lines get cut from the sirens.
The city manager's office has said this project will cost $270,000 and where will that money come from? Stammer says the city manager has informed him that money will come from general revenue.
And starting in March, Joplin will only be testing its storm sirens on the first and third Monday of each month, instead of every Monday has been done up till now.
Stammer says in the NWS assessment people said they heard the sirens going off all the time, and felt like many folks didn't pay attention on May 22 because they were so used to the wail.
161 people were killed in the EF-5 twister.
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