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Committee questions siren coverage, considers radios, text alerts and shared water access
Summary
After testing the valley siren and reviewing available equipment, the committee concluded the single siren provides limited coverage; members discussed retiring or supplementing the system, buying household radios, improving text/phone alerts, and cataloging private water sources (cisterns/pools) for drafting with possible MOUs for reimbursement.
The Castle Valley Hazard Mitigation Committee spent part of its Feb. 25 meeting evaluating emergency communications and water resources for firefighting.
Siren tests showed the existing single pole-mounted siren had limited reach and inconsistent audibility depending on wind and location. Committee members estimated at least three sirens would be required for valley-wide coverage and said the current siren may be retired or augmented. Text-message or national alert systems were discussed but committee members noted previous tests of texting systems had not reliably reached residents on Wi‑Fi; that argument favors multiple redundant methods.
Practical alternatives discussed included purchasing low-cost household radios that could be activated centrally, establishing a phone tree, and improving the town’s ability to remotely activate devices. Members also flagged Rocky Mountain Power’s recent policy changes (placing customers on fire-sensitive settings and de-energizing lines near fires) as an operational constraint for any system dependent on grid power.
On water resources, members identified private cisterns, livestock tanks, a swimming pool with 18,000 gallons, and the Queenie Shea Pond as potential drafting sources. They discussed compatibility issues (hose fittings, pump capacity), permitting or MOUs for access, and potential reimbursement or cost-share arrangements for using private water stores in emergencies.
What was not decided: No purchases were approved; the committee directed staff to investigate costs and technical requirements for additional sirens, household radios, and a drafting-compatibility inventory of private water sources.
Next steps: Staff will catalog known private water sources and pursue MOU or reimbursement language options, obtain price estimates for additional sirens and household radios, and include communications options in the plan’s communications section for public review.
