New Siren-PA System Donated

News Report from Kansas First News
November 29, 2011

 

A donation from Tyson Foods helps Emporia Police Officers save lives. Tyson Plant Manager Mike Fiehler says, "We felt that it was important that we make sure our people, both the community and our team members from the plant, are as safe as possible."

Lupe Rodriguez lives across the street from Las Casitas Park. An area with a lot of Spanish speaking Emporians and without any kind of weather warning system.

Rodriguez says the tornado that formed over Emporia, and eventually hit Reading, came too close for comfort. Rodriguez says, "It made us feel like, what if it had been us? We wouldn't have known about it because we wouldn't have heard anything."

The check from Tyson pays for a notification system that city leaders plan to build at the park. It not only sounds a siren during a tornado warning, but speaks prerecorded messages during lightening, hail, high winds, and floods in both English and Spanish.

Emporia Police Chief Gary Smith says that's not all it does. He says, "In the event of a disaster, when we need to get information out to people we're actually able to go live and use it as a public address system."

Emporia Mayor Kevin Nelson is excited about the new system. He says, "As people well know, these things can pop up within seconds. So, your reaction time needs to be fairly quick and this gives us that reaction time that we need."

Rodriguez believes the system will save numerous lives. She says, "I think it's great. We really appreciate it. I'm sure everybody will be glad."

Police say the messages and sirens can be heard up to two miles away.