Lockhart fire chief reviews siren coverage, upgrades and WarnCentralTexas signup ahead of storm season

Fire Chief Randy Jenkins told the City Council he recommends no policy changes to the city’s outdoor warning siren activation criteria but flagged coverage gaps and future equipment options.

“The outdoor warning siren consists of five electromechanical sirens located throughout the city,” Jenkins said, and added that the city’s regional indoor notification platform (WarnCentralTexas) currently lists 13,827 contacts associated with Lockhart. Jenkins said the sirens are tested monthly and maintained under an annual maintenance contract; the system received a server and software upgrade in 2024 and battery and charger replacements in 2025.

Jenkins described the city’s activation criteria: an NWS tornado warning that includes any part of the city polygon; a severe‑thunderstorm warning when forecast winds reach roughly 70 mph; observed hail of 1.5 inches in diameter or greater within city limits; or any observed weather hazard judged likely to endanger people. The chief noted the system’s automatic‑activation software triggered the sirens once on May 9, 2024, for a tornado warning and the sirens began sounding about two minutes after the NWS issuance.

Jenkins showed topography‑based decibel maps that reveal lower coverage at the northwest and southeast edges of town and said adding a sixth siren at a fire‑station location could fill part of the gap; he estimated an installed siren would likely cost in the $35,000–$40,000 range. He also said the department has replaced small battery chargers with a more robust commercial charger and is evaluating the cost and feasibility of converting sites to AC power with DC backup for greater reliability.

Council members asked how to increase resident signups for WarnCentralTexas and how the system interacts with the outdoor sirens. Jenkins explained that the outdoor sirens are intended for people outdoors to go inside and then use WarnCentralTexas or other indoor channels for more detailed information. He noted the number reported to council (13,827) refers to contact records (one person may have multiple records) and offered staff assistance with outreach before the severe‑weather season.

No change to siren activation criteria was recommended at this time; council asked staff to coordinate promotional efforts for WarnCentralTexas signups and to evaluate options and costs for additional siren coverage or power‑system retrofits.