Comments on: Local: A warning about warning sirens: Don’t rely on them inside your home http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/ Media and news from the original river city Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:17:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Richard Weisenberger http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107219 Richard Weisenberger Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:11:09 +0000 http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/#comment-107219 Current warning sirens are not designed to be audible from indoors. I offer a better solution. A typical siren today rated at 125 dB at 100 feet has a 70 dB radius of less than a mile (4500 feet). You would not expect to be able to hear this from indoors. We even have trouble hearing the 130 dB Thunderbolt atop Lourdes Hospital from my office, a mere 3200 feet away, as it has a 70 dB radius of only 1.3 miles (6900 feet). We also have trouble hearing the Thunderbolt at Concord Elementary from inside Kentucky Oaks Mall, a mere 1/2 mile away as we do from our house at almost exactly 1 mile. The new 2001 units that they're replacing them with are even harder to hear from indoors, as they can't maintain output like the Thunderbolts during the downward wail (where most of the carrying power and penetration lies). There are even two of these 2001 units visible from Crestview Mall in Northern Kentucky. That shows they aren't meant to cover very large areas. My Ultrawhistle prototype generated 125 dB at 100 feet, but produced an SPL of 85 dB at 1 mile and 70 dB at 2.5 miles (13,200 feet) using 150 HP. This is almost twice the radius (or 4 times the coverage area) of a 5 dB louder Thunderbolt, but not as efficient in terms of square miles/HP. The tests were audible over parts of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati including Hebron, Florence, Erlanger and Fort Mitchell, KY as well as Delhi, OH. It was also audible from inside a moving car from a distance of two miles from the test site. Being of the same frequency and tonal spectrum as my Ultrawhistle prototype, my 10 dB louder inverted, horn loaded Dynawhistle should produce 95 dB at 1 mile and 70 dB at up to 4 miles using only 100 HP. That's similar coverage to today's sirens in terms of square miles/HP. There is no way you wouldn't hear it indoors from the same distance as a current siren. I would like for a manufacturer (hopefully from my home state of Kentucky) to build one of my Dynawhistles and test it in actual cities. I believe it would soon catch on, as unlike a siren of equal output, it would not sound unbearable to those within the first few hundred feet and would likewise be audible in areas and situations where no current siren would. I guarantee that those who have trouble hearing the current sirens at distances of 1 mile or less would have no problem hearing it. The only ones needing weather radios would be those located outside of a 2 mile radius. Here are links to my patents: http://www.delphion.com/details?&pn=US04686928__ (Dynawhistle) http://www.delphion.com/details?pn10=US04429656 (Ultrawhistle) My research leading to these patents can be found at http://rjweisen.50megs.com Here is a link to the video of my original Ultrawhistle prototype test at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in July, 1982: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbhxzW21ejc Current warning sirens are not designed to be audible from indoors. I offer a better solution.
A typical siren today rated at 125 dB at 100 feet has a 70 dB radius of less than a mile (4500 feet). You would not expect to be able to hear this from indoors. We even have trouble hearing the 130 dB Thunderbolt atop Lourdes Hospital from my office, a mere 3200 feet away, as it has a 70 dB radius of only 1.3 miles (6900 feet). We also have trouble hearing the Thunderbolt at Concord Elementary from inside Kentucky Oaks Mall, a mere 1/2 mile away as we do from our house at almost exactly 1 mile.

The new 2001 units that they’re replacing them with are even harder to hear from indoors, as they can’t maintain output like the Thunderbolts during the downward wail (where most of the carrying power and penetration lies). There are even two of these 2001 units visible from Crestview Mall in Northern Kentucky. That shows they aren’t meant to cover very large areas.

My Ultrawhistle prototype generated 125 dB at 100 feet, but produced an SPL of 85 dB at 1 mile and 70 dB at 2.5 miles (13,200 feet) using 150 HP. This is almost twice the radius (or 4 times the coverage area) of a 5 dB louder Thunderbolt, but not as efficient in terms of square miles/HP. The tests were audible over parts of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati including Hebron, Florence, Erlanger and Fort Mitchell, KY as well as Delhi, OH. It was also audible from inside a moving car from a distance of two miles from the test site.

Being of the same frequency and tonal spectrum as my Ultrawhistle prototype, my 10 dB louder inverted, horn loaded Dynawhistle should produce 95 dB at 1 mile and 70 dB at up to 4 miles using only 100 HP. That’s similar coverage to today’s sirens in terms of square miles/HP. There is no way you wouldn’t hear it indoors from the same distance as a current siren.

I would like for a manufacturer (hopefully from my home state of Kentucky) to build one of my Dynawhistles and test it in actual cities. I believe it would soon catch on, as unlike a siren of equal output, it would not sound unbearable to those within the first few hundred feet and would likewise be audible in areas and situations where no current siren would.

I guarantee that those who have trouble hearing the current sirens at distances of 1 mile or less would have no problem hearing it. The only ones needing weather radios would be those located outside of a 2 mile radius.
Here are links to my patents:
http://www.delphion.com/details?&pn=US04686928__ (Dynawhistle)
http://www.delphion.com/details?pn10=US04429656 (Ultrawhistle)
My research leading to these patents can be found at http://rjweisen.50megs.com
Here is a link to the video of my original Ultrawhistle prototype test at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in July, 1982:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbhxzW21ejc

]]> By: Tony http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107218 Tony Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:48:40 +0000 http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/#comment-107218 Mahkno, tornado sirens run for 3 minutes at a steady pitch. How long would you have them go for? In addition, most Emergency Managers will re-activate the sirens during the warning period if it appears there is an actual tornado imminent or on the ground (as a opposed to a radar-indicated tornado warning which most warnings are). Mahkno, tornado sirens run for 3 minutes at a steady pitch. How long would you have them go for? In addition, most Emergency Managers will re-activate the sirens during the warning period if it appears there is an actual tornado imminent or on the ground (as a opposed to a radar-indicated tornado warning which most warnings are).

]]> By: Jennifer http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107217 Jennifer Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:48:51 +0000 http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/#comment-107217 Cory, I'm with you on that one. We have a store front office. Big glass window. The only interior area is a tiny bathroom (that we have a filing cabinet along one wall because we are so lacking in storage) that I am doubtful will house the three of us. Ugh. I just hope any tornadoes have good timing and wait til I'm home where there's a basement to flee to. Jennifer Cory,
I’m with you on that one. We have a store front office. Big glass window. The only interior area is a tiny bathroom (that we have a filing cabinet along one wall because we are so lacking in storage) that I am doubtful will house the three of us. Ugh. I just hope any tornadoes have good timing and wait til I’m home where there’s a basement to flee to.
Jennifer

]]> By: Cory http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107216 Cory Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:39:07 +0000 http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/#comment-107216 Then you have an employer like mine, who has basically no rooms protected by interior walls. If a tornado comes, we're all f**ked. Then you have an employer like mine, who has basically no rooms protected by interior walls. If a tornado comes, we’re all f**ked.

]]> By: Bookworm http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107215 Bookworm Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:29:12 +0000 http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/#comment-107215 Yes indeed, C.J. -- remember the tornado that hit Parsons Manufacturing in 2004? All that kept it from being a truly horrific disaster was the company's constant attention to weather safety. They paid attention to ALL severe weather watches and warnings, had a NOAA weather radio, designated people to watch the skies, had clearly marked, designated tornado shelters throughout the facility AND had tornado drills twice a year. Every employer should have a plan like theirs. Yes indeed, C.J. — remember the tornado that hit Parsons Manufacturing in 2004? All that kept it from being a truly horrific disaster was the company’s constant attention to weather safety. They paid attention to ALL severe weather watches and warnings, had a NOAA weather radio, designated people to watch the skies, had clearly marked, designated tornado shelters throughout the facility AND had tornado drills twice a year. Every employer should have a plan like theirs.

]]> By: Billy Dennis http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107214 Billy Dennis Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:59:42 +0000 http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/#comment-107214 And at this moment, we have a storm cell coming in. No sirens yet. And my supervisor tells me they have unplugged all the equipment on that side of the room as they are preparing the close the call center. All out jobs are being transfered to the Philippines, as you recall. And at this moment, we have a storm cell coming in. No sirens yet.

And my supervisor tells me they have unplugged all the equipment on that side of the room as they are preparing the close the call center. All out jobs are being transfered to the Philippines, as you recall.

]]> By: Mahkno http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107213 Mahkno Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:38:30 +0000 http://pundit.blogpeoria.com/2008/07/21/local-a-warning-about-warning-sirens-dont-rely-on-them-inside-your-home/#comment-107213 My big gripe about the sirens is that they run for too short of a time and then thats it. So if you slept through it as many did but wake up while the warning is still on.... The sirens should be going off regularly during the entire warning period. My big gripe about the sirens is that they run for too short of a time and then thats it. So if you slept through it as many did but wake up while the warning is still on…. The sirens should be going off regularly during the entire warning period.

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