Would a mass flood alert siern systems work or would it just cause panic?

Run_to_da_hills

Countries that are vulnerable to flooding, topical storms etc usually have a mass warning system to give people time to prepare and take shelter.

Apparently there was absoltly no warning in Cork when the ESB released water from Inniscarra dam. An hours warning would have given plenty of time to move cars, books, furniture, clothes electrical appliances etc to higher ground.

Would a mass audio warning system work here or would it just cause panic?

G_R

I think we need some kind of alert system, but not a siren. I think a timely announcement on TV/Radio would suffice.

I think a system where all Irish TV and Radio stations would be required to pause whatever they have on at the moment and make the announcement. Then a repeater message every few mins on radio and a scrawl at the bottom of the screen for a period of time after the announcement on TV.

Word of mouth would spread the message to anyone who wasnt watching TV/Listening to radio and people would know exactly what they are being warned of, whereas, if a Siren goes off, people wont know if they are about to be bombed or if a damn is about to burst its banks

Run_to_da_hills

dannym08 wrote: »

I think we need some kind of alert system, but not a siren. I think a timely announcement on TV/Radio would suffice.

And Boards, some people like myself rarely watch TV / Radio

Run_to_da_hills

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

And Boards, some people like myself rarely watch TV / Radio

If I remember correctly there was announcements on the news on the radio and I'm sure the tv carried them as well, but without a 24hr news channel you only get them at 1.00, 5.30, 6.01, 9.00 and 11.00. If people don't listen to or watch mainstream media than what are the ESB to do? Call to everybodies home? Phone them on their mobiles?

Although, maybe mobiles are the answer. They could issue a message to all providers who would then send them to all mobiles that are in the affected areas. I'm sure there is a way of just sending them just to certain masts. If not, then so what if someone in dublin gets an announcment about flooding in cork.

Trojan911

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Would a mass audio warning system work here or would it just cause panic?

A town near me has that alert in place for the volunteer fire service. They'd have to change the tone as it would create more confusion than anything.

The Vol fire service would be running for their tenders, the locals would be running to fill their sandbags & the OAP's still run to their shelters.

I would say it is not needed.

civdef

I think a system where all Irish TV and Radio stations would be required to pause whatever they have on at the moment and make the announcement. Then a repeater message every few mins on radio and a scrawl at the bottom of the screen for a period of time after the announcement on TV.

There is a national emergency communication system in place, that cuts into all national and local TV and Radio.

Run_to_da_hills

civdef wrote: »

There is a national emergency communication system in place, that cuts into all national and local TV and Radio.

Why wasn't it put into place before the Inniscarra dam was opened ?

Ian Beale

The lee valley was already flooded, a warning system set off could make people want to go back after already being evacuated and that would risk a huge number of lives.

Tipsy Mac

Nobody died, that's the main thing. Perhaps people would have died if mass panic was introduced. A siren is more useful for a Sunami situation.

BizPost

Some of the stories are heart wrentching in the media of people in serious trouble not knowing if they're going to loose their house/ farms etc as things gets worse. Is there not one single website that gives information of alert levels for different areas or information?

How many agencies are down helping out? Seems huge amount of just local community response which if they're not properly supported with the right equipment like life jackets can be dangerous.

deadwood

"A mass flood alert system" ?

Not a bad idea. What happens, the priest shouts "FLOOD!", grabs an altar boy by the cassocks and legs it?