Code Red Reverse 911 System
We featured an interesting story last night on the news at 10:00. The City of Meridian and Lauderdale County are considering purchasing and implementing a "Reverse 911" system.The system works like this: In the event of an impending disaster in a certain part of the county, the computer software can send out 1,000 phone calls per minute to only the affected area. Click the link below to read more:
Reverse 911 Story
The system costs $15,000, and the city and county plan to split the bill. The system is designed to be used for missing children, chemical spills, severe weather and other disasters that require timely widespread notification.
I think its an exciting technology, but I have some apprehension about its use for severe weather. We would have to make sure that the operator of the system notified only those in the direct path of the tornado. And, I believe it would probably be best to reserve using the system for the most extreme situations.
For example, if a tornado has been sighted roaring towards a populated area, we definitely need to activate the system. But, I don't think the system should be used for every tornado warning.
The warning system works like this: The National Weather Service over in Jackson issues the tornado warning. Then, they communicate this warning to emergency management, media, and the public via NOAA weather radio.
Obviously, there are some tornado warnings for storms that do not produce tornadoes. Weather radar is simply not yet capable of determining for sure if a storm is producing a tornado.
I believe that if we use this system too much, we would do so at risk of "crying wolf." Many people already accuse us of doing this. The best course of action in my opinion is to use this system only for confirmed tornadoes.
Would this cause the phone system to miss a tornado or two? Yes, and I have a hard time accepting that. Because when the system was NOT activated and a tornado hurt or killed someone, the inevitable question would be: "Why wasn't the system activated?" It would be mighty difficult to answer that question.
But, I believe that if we implement this system for every tornado warning, people will begin to ignore these phone calls. Its not a stretch to envision people leaving the phone off the hook during severe weather episodes to avoid being awakened.
NOAA Weather Radio already alerts people for EVERY tornado warning. I believe that the Code Red Reverse 911 System could allow us to build a different "tier" of tornado warning, reserved only for long-track, life-threatening confirmed tornadoes - the worst of the worst.
Please don't misunderstand - I think the Code Red system is great for notification for disasters. I'm FOR this system. I think its potential as a life-saving device is excellent. But, again, I just have some apprehension about how people will react to it.
The BEST way to stay alert to severe weather warnings is a NOAA Weather Radio, because they will alert you to every warning. I prefer this method to Code Red, simply because it allows people the choice of receiving warnings.
There is no "right" or "wrong" on this topic. It is a very touchy subject, simply because lives are at stake. But open discussion such as this can only help the process.
Feel free to leave a "Comment" below on this topic!
posted by WTOK Weather Staff @ 12:19 PM
2 Comments:
I agree that sometimes too may tornado warnings causing the public to become too slow in their response. BUT what happens when you fail to activate the system (due to only radar signatures) and you actually have a tornado develop and cause damage/injuries.
The reverse 911 would be able to notify only certain portions of the county instead of the entire county
"BUT what happens when you fail to activate the system (due to only radar signatures) and you actually have a tornado develop and cause damage/injuries."
--Good, valid point...I understand that would probably happen, and that's a big pitfall of NOT activating the system during each tornado warning. I wish we knew ahead of time which ones were truly producing tornadoes, but we just aren't there in the science yet.
There are tornadoes that strike without ANY warning being issued. So, if there was a damaging tornado, we'd already have a warning in place ideally. I definitely see your point and agree with you. We'd have to communicate to the public the exact policy about when the system is or is not activated.
--Those people who are deeply concerned about getting the warnings most likely already have a NOAA WX Radio. So, they understand and choose to accept that many tornado warnings do not produce tornadoes. By implementing this system, you no longer give people the choice.
--I just think reaction to a few false alarms at 3 AM would be overwhelming. And, given the current False Alarm Ratio, that's an inevitable scenario.
--If we save this system for the worst, we can create a higher level of caution and designate it for those tornadoes that have been confirmed as having caused damage. I think that people would take the system much more seriously that way.
--Don't get me wrong, it's a great system, and I truly hope it becomes a reality. I just think we have to consider the negative ramifications and the reaction that many people would have to a phone call at 2AM for a tornado warning that doesn't produce a tornado.
--Thanks for your feedback, feel free to chime in any time! This is exactly what the blog was created for, to create a place to discuss weather and safety issues like this!
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