NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Crews will relocate two outdoor sirens in North Richland Hills this week, part of a long-term replacement plan meant to extend a warning's reach.
Thursday, OmniWarn Public Safety contractors installed a 130-decibel siren on a 50-foot pole at Linda Spurlock Park, replacing the decades-old alarm about one block away on Onyx Drive. The crew will assemble and erect another siren at the Richland High School softball field this weekend, replacing the nearby siren on Circle Drive.
The old devices functioned properly, but their successors are sturdier and smarter. Their new locations also account for the city's growth.
"Sometimes, the population shifts or cities don't grow the way they thought they might grow, so we have to re-plan for that," OmniWarn vice president Ryan Dean said, speaking generally.
Dean said his company creates a 'sound map' to identify outdoor warning systems' potential coverage gaps. Each of North Richland Hills' sirens has been and will be strategically placed for maximum reach, the city's emergency management coordinator said.
Still, cities need to occasionally reassess the locations to account for changing populations and topography. For example, trees that may absorb sound have grown up around the siren on Onyx Drive.
The Onyx Drive and Circle Drive horns were also positioned just a few feet from nearby houses, almost in their yards. One homeowner told WFAA she's grateful the alarms' monthly test tones will soon emanate from further away, though she acknowledged the system is "necessary."
The city of North Richland Hills has gradually replaced its sirens over a few years. There are a few more left to replace before all ten sirens are relatively new, the emergency management coordinator said.
The new sirens are more reliable because they lean more on batteries and have fewer electronic components that can malfunction, Dean said. However, the new alarms feature functional improvements that allow for more targeted warnings.
Crews will mount the new horns on metal poles, which can withstand severe weather, rot, and woodpeckers better than their wooden predecessors.
"Sirens are important because they work in a multi-layered warning system," Dean said. "They tell you something is happening. It's time to go inside and seek more information."
The city is considering adding additional sirens to its current fleet of ten, the emergency coordinator said. North Richland Hills tests its alerts at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.