Settling the Siren, Once and for all!

[Frank]

Aug 12, 2010 9:40:45 GMT -4 kp said:

I was told the people on KI are so friendly but all I've found is a giant clique and an attitude of "go back to where you came from." Not really the exclusionary thinking I want my son to learn. That unwelcoming feeling is almost as bad as the siren. Sad...

I really would have to differ with your observations. People on the eastern shore are here because they want a different life than over the bridge. This has been a great place for my son to grow up. Where on the west side could your son participate in a "Opening day for little league baseball parade", or attend a waterman's festival, or the crab festival in Crisfield? The people who get the "unwelcome" feeling" when they move here are the ones that complain about the way we live, no mall, movie theatres, bowling alleys, etc. If you can move here and embrace the eastern shore way of life, you will fit in fine here.

[kp]

Frank, I'm truly glad that KI has been a great place for your son to grow up. All kids deserve that. I moved here for all of the reasons you stated that it's great for kids. The only thing I've found to complain about is the siren. If it were gone, I'm sure I could be happy here. But it doesn't even seem to be allowed for a person to ask questions here. That's when the "shut up and go back to where you came from" attitude comes out. Not all change is bad and some change can be quite good.

[jiminbaycity]

glic,
The following comes directly from the Queen Anne's County web site
under Emercency Services.

Tri-County Siren Alarm Information for Citizens

If you grew up in the Cold-War era, you probably remember practicing "duck and cover". Bert the Turtle, a lovable cartoon character, told us of the dangers of a nuclear explosion and the best ways to protect ourselves. The "duck and cover" campaign was part of our national Civil Defense and we took it seriously indeed: we dropped to our knees and covered our eyes to protect us from the nuclear blast. We had little triangles on our radios at 1240 and 640 kHz. We knew to turn our dials to these locations for information when advised to do so. We also had sirens. The sirens were tested periodically and it was comforting to know if danger was imminent the sirens would sound. One signal warned of an immediate threat: time to "duck and cover". Another signal was a warning and we tuned to 1240 or 640 kHz for information. A third signal was the "all clear" and we knew the emergency had ended and we could breathe sigh of relief.

In parts of our country where tornadoes occur regularly, the old Civil Dense siren signals are still employed. People know when they hear the imminent danger tones, they should take cover as a tornado has been sighted. Since the end of the Cold War, the most serious threats to our area have been weather related. Unlike the tornado-prone parts of our country, our weather has allowed ample warning and sirens have not been necessary. As they say, "Times have changed."

Emergency Managers in Queen Anne’s, Caroline, & Talbot Counties have realized a need for an additional means of warning our communities of imminent danger or the need to turn on radios, televisions or computers for information. This is not because of any new threat or concern. Our communities have not been specifically targeted by any hostile force. It is hoped that the "Imminent Danger" signal will never be needed; however, it will be available should something occur. The "Warning" signal might be used when a severe weather warning is issued for the area. After Hurricane Isabel blew through the Eastern Shore, many residents felt they were not adequately warned regarding the tidal surge. The "Warning" signal will alert everyone of the need to acquire additional information. When the crisis is ended, an "All-Clear" signal will be sounded.

The "Imminent Danger" siren signal is a two minute wavering tone. The wavering tone goes up and down faster than the customary fire signal. The "Warning" signal is a two minute steady tone. A steady tone is now used for ambulance alerts but has a much shorter duration than the "Warning" signal. The "All Clear" signal is a steady, 30-second tone.

The system will be tested on the first Saturday of every month at noon by sounding the IMMINENT DANGER SIGNAL, FOLLOWED BY THE ALL-CLEAR.

If you need additional information regarding the new siren signals, please contact the Emergency Management office in your County or log onto either of the County’s web-sites. Links and contact information is listed below.

Monthly System Test

The system will be tested on the first Saturday of each month at noon by sounding the Imminent Danger Signal, for 30 seconds, followed by the All-Clear Signal.

Pay attention to these tests on the first Saturday of every month in order to familiarize yourself with how they sound so you can take appropriate action in the event of a real emergency.


Queen Anne's County
Kevin Aftung
Phone: [phone] x1105
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.qac.org


Yes, the County staffed EMS units are manned 24/7 and the siren is not used for them. It is used for calls where both the county and KIVFD units are dispatched. Or when the county unit is not available.
There are other ways of alerting members and not all members have pagers( yes this is a financial thing) pagers are good if carrying it and everyone has one. I do not.
I could list multiple reasons when one would or would not have a pager on, but will not in an effort to minimize the the "debate" factor and stay focused on the isssue. Right now we have some viable suggestions.
1. Move the siren
2. Raise money for more pagers.

Moving it makes it some other neighborhoods problem, maybe Gibson Grant or homes on Castle Marina? Just my opinion.

Raising money sounds great, this would come from the community where 80% of our funds come from. I feel we already ask a lot from our community with the various fund raising we do. I believe the orginization is looking into obtaining a grant for more pagers. But this will take time.

DMKI,
your "deep rooted corrupt" conspiracy theory is nonsensical.

[markp]

Caveat emptor - "Buyer beware"

Sorry to hear you're being burdened by the siren that has been there a very long time at the location that the fire dept. used to be. Chalk it up to learning experience, always talk to prospective neighbors and see if there are any issues that may arise with the location in which you want to live.

Personally I like to have the sirens still in place, it alerts me to watch out for volunteers that are trying to respond to the call and get out of the way for them. I have no other method to know they're on the way otherwise.

[beachgal]

I would miss the hearing the fire signal. It is so ingrained in my childhood memories from growing up in Easton. Anytime the siren would go off the scanner would go on and we would listen for what the call was. It is just a part of the Eastern Shore way of life, much like the carnivals, parades and seeing combines driving on the highways and byways.

[kp]

Jim, I understand your sensitivity about asking the community for more funds, but if the fundraising effort were targeted and made clear, i.e. "Raise $X needed to stop the siren" I'm sure many would be generous with their contributions.

[RobMoore]

Aug 12, 2010 12:39:33 GMT -4 beachgal said:

I would miss the hearing the fire signal. It is so ingrained in my childhood memories from growing up in Easton.

Growing up in Tornado Alley gave me a totally different feeling when I would hear the siren.

[dmki]

I read in the paper the county just puchased some land in Bay City. I went to check out the lots and they are allready being cleared to install a second siren. The county guys said completion should be early 2011.

They also said one was scheduled to be built near Kent Island Esatates in late 2012.

[jiminbaycity]

This would be an Emergency Preparedness Siren, correct?

[kp]

Wow, great news for the siren lovers. Sirens for everyone!

So there is money for more sirens, but not pagers?

I've gotta get off of this island...

[deputy]

Aug 12, 2010 12:51:16 GMT -4 kp said:

Jim, I understand your sensitivity about asking the community for more funds, but if the fundraising effort were targeted and made clear, i.e. "Raise $X needed to stop the siren" I'm sure many would be generous with their contributions.

Lets get the monster mortgage on the building and property done and paid 1st, can we? it's a much bigger bill than the stupid siren.

[Frank]

Pagers are so 1980's. A good siren is timeless!

[beachgal]

I might suggest not moving further down the Shore.... Sirens are in pretty much every community aside from Salisbury and Cambridge.

Really not sure why it is such an issue. It is not like the siren is hidden at the fire department. If you see a large tower on top of the firehouse with what looks like bull horns coming out in every direction, you can rest assured it is a siren. It is not a hidden secret. If you move close to a fire house, chances are you are going to hear it when it goes off. I know people who have lived in Easton next to the firehouse their whole life and never once complained about the siren. It is a part of life over here.... I am just grateful for the men and women who respond to it.

[kp]

OMG...Beachgal, THE SIREN IS NOT AT THE FIREHOUSE!!!

[jiminbaycity]

No its not at the firehouse.
Its in the neighborhood where the members live. What on earth were they thinking.

Some people are never happy.

Deputy, who ever you are, I did not want to get into the mortgage thing, if I did then some moron would start harping on that issue. I was just trying to explain to the people why, the siren is there, what its for and so on. The monster mortgage is more important.

I say blow the siren until it falls of the pole then blow it some more.

BTW I am a chicken necker, moved here 4 years ago this month and LOVE it..

[kp]

Jim, I thought you were genuine in your comments about presenting/discussing ideas that might lead to the elimination or reduction of the use of the siren. I wasn't complaining that the siren is not at the firehouse, I'm merely pointing out Beachgal's error. If I had moved next to a firehouse, I wouldn't be complaining at all!

[beachgal]

Then I suggest moving back to the western shore since the regret of moving here is so great. Also, next time do more research on where you are moving instead of just assuming that all places are going to be like where you came from. Obviously wherever you came from was not all that great but from the sounds of it, Kent Island must be close to hell for you.

[beachgal]

There is a siren at the Romancoke station. That is the one I hear.

[kp]

Beachgal you are an idiot. You have the nerve to tell me I should have done more research before moving here, yet you claim to have lived here forever and didn't even know where the siren was. Perhaps you are right and that I should have done more research, but it never ocurred me to ask about something I've never heard of. You'd better believe I will be inquiring about the existance of such a noise polluting relic the next place I move to. I can't WAIT to get off of this island.

[beachgal]

I don't think you have been accepted because it is "clique-ish", I think it is safe to say there are other reasons. I never said I have lived on Kent Island my whole life, I grew up in Easton and I was referring to the firehouse there and the one in Romancoke where I live. But thank you for pointing out I am an idiot based on the fact that I don't know where your particular siren is.

[kp]

You shouldn't jump in the middle of a debate without reading all of the thread and make incorrect assumptions. And you're welcome.

[jiminbaycity]

Remember to vote in the poll.

[bchevy]

Aug 12, 2010 16:55:49 GMT -4 kp said:

Beachgal you are an idiot.

There's that good ole Western Shore mentality. You complain about the cliques here and try to fit in with that? Remember, we all don't know as much as some of you so go easy on us, and the name calling....

[bchevy]

Aug 12, 2010 16:55:49 GMT -4 kp said:

I can't WAIT to get off of this island.

GONE YET? (holding my giant spoon, moving it in a stirring motion)

[bchevy]

Aug 12, 2010 17:39:35 GMT -4 jiminbaycity said:

Remember to vote in the poll.

done