The Pacific County Emergency
Management Agency, in coordination with Washington State
Emergency Management, is beginning the installation of ten All
Hazard Alert Broadcast (AHAB) sirens in Pacific County.
The first of the ten sirens was
installed Wednesday, October 25, 2006 in Bay Center just south
of the Bay Center Fire Department, followed by two sirens in the
Ocean Park area. All locations have been coordinated with
P.U.D. # 2 of Pacific County and will be within the county or
power
right-of-way.
Poles have been delivered and are
being installed at all 10 sites, however the installation of the
sirens is being phased with six sirens being installed by
mid-November and the remaining sirens by the end of the year.
The process of installation involves the placement of a 55’
Class 2 Douglas Fir pole by an 80’ crane. The following day, a
siren is mounted to the pole. In the near future an electrical
contractor will install the required electrical connections.
Phase 2 of the project will
involved placement of poles and sirens in the Long Beach,
Seaview, and Ilwaco areas. In addition, as coordinating
projects, sirens are being installed by the Shoalwater Bay Tribe
and Cape Disappointment State Park.
In the best weather conditions,
each siren is capable of reaching a 4500’ diameter area with
both a siren warble and voice message. Actual transmission area
coverage will be dependent on humidity, wind, and other weather
related conditions. Once the project is complete testing of the
entire system will take place.
Equipment and installation costs
in excess of $50,000 for each site and is protected under
Section 9A of the Washington State Criminal Code. Pacific
County is fortunate in this project to be the recipient of the
coordinated efforts of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation
Program, the WA State Governor’s Office, the WA State
Legislature, and WA State Emergency Management Division.
Images are of the siren
installation completed at 272nd and U St., just north
of Ocean Park.
