As part of the Town’s Long-Term Community Recovery Plan, the Town prioritized the installation of an Early Warning Sirens that would improve the existing voluntary notification system, implement a mass notification system, and create an audible/alarm notification system.
The Town of Paradise Early Warning Sirens (EWS) consists of twenty-one siren towers located within the town limits of Paradise, California. The purpose of the EWS is to provide a redundant warning system for residents and visitors in Paradise of potential or emergent hazards that threaten life and property. The EWS is designed to work in coordination with existing emergency notification systems and processes and to alert residents of emergencies.
How It Works
An Early Warning Siren is an immediate, loud, and consistent way to notify residents of any hazardous event in a timely manner via sirens, voice messages, text and more. There are multiple ways for residents to be notified in an emergency in case one or more methods of communication is impacted by the emergency itself.
The Early Warning Sirens are only intended to be activated in a true emergency in which evacuation is required, such as a wildfire, flood, extreme weather event, or other life-threatening emergency. Any activation of the EWS should include both siren tone and voice command with further instructions.
Construction started in March 2023. Towers are scheduled to be installed in late May – June 2023 and will be fully operational by fire season. 16 towers have been dug with the required 16- foot holes and with a rebar cage established, and 13 foundations have been poured. With good weather on the horizon, the project will continue to move forward.
Yes, the EWS will include 21 sirens located throughout the Town of Paradise. These sirens will also utilize voice messages in addition to siren tones.
Right after the fire, the Town of Paradise submitted applications for funding for several Hazard Mitigation Projects including the EWS. FEMA granted the Town funds to design the system, which was completed in November 2020. The Town then applied again to FEMA for grant funding to construct the system, and we are waiting to hear whether the funds will be awarded.
Yes, the EWS has been designed to include 21 siren towers located at specific areas in Town to ensure audibility from any location in Town limits.
During testing for the first six months, the Town will conduct a “Can you hear me?” campaign which will encourage residents to provide input on their location and what they can hear. This campaign will be for Town residents as well as residents of nearby communities and will help the Town understand the audibility of the system in actual conditions.
More information on what to expect when the towers are activated, as well as a testing schedule will be coming soon.
The 21 siren towers will be located at strategic locations in Town to ensure audibility within Town limits. The majority of sirens will be placed on public property, and those on private property will be located with the prior agreement of the property owner.
Visit the Town of Paradise Early Warning Sirens Page.
For more information, contact Colette Curtis, Recovery and Economic Development Director at ccurtis@townofparadise.com or (530) 872-6291 ext 112.
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Occasionally, we may send out an extra newsletter pertaining to an upcoming event or important information.
