Siren Test Monitoring is back starting this Saturday.

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The GIS team at the Williamson County EMA have put together an updated Siren Test Monitoring system. This system will look familiar to some of you and is now ready to be used.

We will restart the monthly siren test monitoring this coming Saturday, November 4th at 1PM local and you can find these and future events on the WCARES event calendar.

There will typically be an announcement on the WCARES repeaters at noon (an hour before the siren test) to confirm whether the testing is going ahead or has been cancelled for that day.

Update: The siren test is on for today (Saturday Nov 4, 2023) – there is still time to sign up to monitor one of the sirens. Go to the Events calendar and click on the “SIREN TEST MONITORING” event.

Siren Test Monitoring – WC Outdoor Warning System

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The Williamson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has requested WCARES assistance in monitoring the monthly Outdoor Warning System siren tests. These tests are conducted on the 1st Saturday of every month at 1:00 p.m. local time.

The County has created a siren selection and reporting website; the link is below.

Each siren has been assigned a number. Sirens numbered 1 through 99 are located in unincorporated areas of the County and in Fairview and Nolensville. Sirens numbered 200 through 299 are in Brentwood. WCARES is not monitoring sirens in Franklin proper which are numbered 100 through 199.

NOTE: WCARES is only monitoring sirens numbered 1 through 99 and 200 through 299; we are not monitoring sirens numbered 100 through 199 which are in Franklin proper.

Please consider signing up, traveling to a County siren location, monitoring and reporting the results of the siren test.

To sign-up to monitor a siren, please follow this link:

County “Select Siren” website (not a WCARES website)

On that website, the available sirens to test are sorted by date last tested, with the sirens tested longest ago, appearing at the top. Selecting the name of the siren (e.g. Siren 19) will zoom the map to that specific siren location so you can see where it is; selecting “Click To Sign Up” will take you to the page for entering your contact information for monitoring that specific siren.

You will receive an e-mail after you submit the sign-up form; this e-mail will contain a link to a web-based survey form for your selected siren. Use this form to report whether the siren went off, at what time and for how long etc.

There will typically be an announcement on the WCARES repeaters at noon (an hour before the siren test) to confirm whether the testing is going ahead or has been canceled for that day. The siren tests may be canceled due to weather or other events.

For more information on county alert systems, refer to the Williamson County Alert Systems website.

Remember to check your e-mail for the link to the survey to report the results of your monitoring.

WCARES SET 2022 Pictures

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  • Jeff Standifer (WB5WAJ) delivers a briefing at the start of the SET.
  • Tim Kreth (AD4CJ) meets with Gino Fantoni (EMA) at Franklin Fire Station #2.
  • Tim Kreth (AD4CJ) meets with Gino Fantoni (EMA) at Franklin Fire Station #2.
  • Laura Marler (N4CLO) running Net Control
  • WCARES members gathering at the EOC prior to the exercise.
  • Gene Cheatham (K4ARC) delivers a message to the 911 Supervisor.
  • Gene Cheatham (K4ARC) copies a message in the 911 center to relay it to the 911 Supervisor.
  • Doug Miller (W4DML), JK “Hoop” Hooper (K9QJS), and Michelle Wright (N2IDK) at the Shelter at Williamson County Fire Station 24. (Present but not pictured: John Farrish (NM4N))
  • Tim Kreth (AD4CJ) deploys his Go-Kit at Franklin Fire Station #2 as Gino Fantoni (EMA) looks on.
  • It can get crowded in the Auxcomm Room during an exercise!
  • James Smith (KD4KMM) and Andy Rudolph (KY4DF) at the Shelter at Williamson County Ag Expo Park.
  • James Smith (KD4KMM) and Andy Rudolph (KY4DF) at the Shelter at Williamson County Ag Expo Park.
  • Tim Kreth (AD4CJ) demonstrates his Go-Kit at Franklin Fire Station #2 to EMA Specialist Gino Fantoni.

Siren Test Monitoring – 7/2/2022

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Signup by clicking here.

This list is only for sirens in the unincorporated areas of Williamson County. The test Will take place this Saturday at 1PM. After you monitor the siren please send reports by email to wb5waj@arrl.net . In the email please include the following:

  1. Did the Siren sound?
  2. What time did it go off?
  3. Did it go the full time?
  4. Were there any problems?

Williamson County Siren Testing sign-up

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A temporary sign-up form is available to help monitor Williamson County siren tests. You can find the form here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FADAC29A5FFCE9-owsmonthly

The form lists sirens and test dates to choose from. After selecting sirens and dates, click the

Submit and Sign Up

button at the bottom of the page.

After you monitor a siren test please send reports by e-mail to our EC, Jeff Standifer wb5waj@arrl.net. Please include the following in your e-mail:

  • Did the Siren sound?
  • What time did it go off?
  • Did it go the full time?
  • Were there any problems?

 

NEW
    Siren location addresses and descriptions and a map of the siren locations
    are now available as PDFs here, under:  

Library & Special Interests --> Books References Guides

 

Happy New Year – A message from our new EC

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Happy New Year greetings to all WCARES members –

As most of you already know, Ed Hudgens stepped down as Emergency Coordinator at the end of 2021. Thank you, Ed, for the great job you did during the last two years. Your leadership was much appreciated.

Beginning today, I took on the role of EC with a few thoughts I am passing on for your consideration:

  • Given that WCARES is an ARRL ARES organization, we need to ensure that we, as a group, are always ready, willing, and able to provide Williamson County with reliable emergency communications support. After all, that is the reason the county government has invested so generously and continues to do so, in our communications infrastructure.
     
  • Training exercises and public service events are invaluable in honing our skills as emergency communications specialists. I challenge each of you to take part in as many of these activities as possible.
     
  • The skills of WCARES members and our resources do not have to be limited to Williamson County. As I reach out to the Emergency Coordinators of surrounding counties to exchange ideas and share best practices, please be open to assisting where needed.
     

We will discuss these topics and more at upcoming monthly meetings. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or wish to share thoughts and ideas on the above comments or any other matters relevant to our organization.

I look forward to working with every one of you in the coming year!

Jeff Standifer

WB5WAJ

No Siren Monitoring until further notice.

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Just a reminder that we will not be monitoring the Williamson Co. siren tests until further notice.

From Ed Hudgens, WB4RHQ:

The EMA is in the process of reworking the system, and until that is completed we will not be checking the sirens. – Ed

September 2021 Monthly Meeting at the EOC: What is Emergency Management?

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During the September 18th WCARES monthly meeting, Todd Horton (Director of the Williamson County EMA) gave a fantastic presentation.

His PowerPoint title slide asked, “What is Emergency Management?”

Todd provided a thorough answer and went well beyond this to include the structure of the Williamson County EMA, their vision, their capabilities, facilities, and much more.