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Pasadena Office of Emergency Management to test expanded outdoor warning siren system this weekend
Summary
City OEM announced a comprehensive test of an expanded outdoor warning siren system, including two three-minute alerts for validation and future one-minute Saturday noon tests shared with neighboring jurisdictions.
The City of Pasadena Office of Emergency Management told the city council Feb. 4 that it will complete installation of an updated and expanded outdoor warning siren system this weekend and will conduct comprehensive tests to validate the system.
Azelle Carter, speaking on behalf of the Office of Emergency Management, said the testing would include "two large siren alerts, being 3 minutes apiece. This is abnormal, but we have to do this to make sure that the system is working appropriately." Carter said the expanded system will be tested with Deer Park and La Porte going forward and that future siren tests will occur Saturdays at noon and be one minute in length.
Carter said the city has a communications plan to notify residents ahead of the test with outreach on television (including Telemundo, Univision and ABC13), social media and direct outreach to businesses in affected neighborhoods. "We're doing several initiatives, with television, Telemundo, Univision and ABC 13. And we're also trying to put out as much information as we can via social media and to, eventually, we're gonna reach out to the businesses in Pasadena before Saturday," Carter said.
Why it matters: The expanded siren footprint and the initial longer test are intended to verify system performance and ensure coordinated testing with neighboring jurisdictions. Carter asked council members to direct constituents with questions to her office.
Operational details read into the record: the initial validation test will consist of two three-minute alerts; future routine tests will be conducted Saturdays at noon and will be one minute in length. Carter encouraged council members to contact her office with questions and said OEM will do outreach to neighborhoods and businesses before the test.
Ending: The council recorded the presentation; no formal vote was needed on the announcement. Further operational decisions about siren placement were handled by separate resolutions approved during the meeting.
