stormchaser06's Blog

A few months ago, I wrote a blog asking why there were no tornado sirens around the Houston area. Read that blog here. 

 

I actually was looking at the issue again now that we are moving into prime severe weather season. While I was looking, I stumbled upon some information about Houston and Tornado Sirens. Houston did have tornado sirens at one point. Apparently, Houston used to have "Thunderbolt" outdoor warning sirens made by Federal Signal. ("Thunderbolts" included Model 1000, 1000T, and 1003's. A thunderbolt is pictured at right).

 

Anyhow, I found my answer on wikipedia. (of course!) This is what the article said:

"Houston, TX Began removing many thunderbolts in the mid. 1990's due to sound pollution ordinance. None were operational by 2004. No sirens have been put back in their place."

Are you kidding me?!

 

This new information prompted me to go in search of Houston's City Ordinances and find out what this "sound pollution ordinance" actually said. I found this in Chapter 30 Section 30-6:

"Maximum permissible sound levels.

(a)   In addition to the violations established by the preceding sections of this chapter, no person shall conduct, permit, or allow any activity or sound source to produce a sound discernible at any location beyond the property lines of the property on which the sound is being generated that when measured as provided in section 30-7 of this Code exceeds the applicable dB(A) level listed below for the property on which the sound is received:

(1)   Residential property:   

a.   65 dB(A) during daytime hours.

b.   58 dB(A) during nighttime hours.

(2)   Nonresidential property:  68 dB(A) at all times.  

Any sound that exceeds the dB(A) levels set forth in this section under the conditions and measurement criteria set forth in this chapter is a violation of this chapter. Evidence that an activity or sound source produces a sound that exceeds the dB(A) levels specified in this section shall be prima facie evidence of a sound nuisance that unreasonably disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others in violation of this chapter.

(b)   Regardless of the measurable dB(A) level established above and measured as provided in section 30-7, below, the generator of any sound of such a nature as to cause persons occupying or using any property other than the property upon which the sound is being generated to be aware of sympathetic vibrations or resonance caused by the sound shall also be prima facie evidence of a sound that unreasonably disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others in violation of this chapter. (Ord. No. 01-945, § 2, 10-17-01)"

unreasonably disturbs, injures, or endagers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others?

NOT having the warning sirens endagers the safety of others I think! It's a CIVIL DEFENSE warning system, and civil defense can also be read as PUBLIC SAFETY, right? Check out this statement in Section 30-9:

 

"Defenses.

The following defenses shall apply to any offense established in this chapter: (a)   The emission of any sound was for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency, danger, or attempted crime

(Ord. No. 01-945, § 2, 10-17-01)"

 

I don't know about you, but I consider a tornado or (heaven forbid) an attack on the Port or a refinery explosion to all be emergencies and dangers! If it is ok for a sound greater than 68 dB(A) to be heard in order to alert persons to the existence of an emergency, then why were the sirens removed?