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BRING BACK THE SIRENS

In the aftermath of the San Diego fires, it is revealed that some people either did not get the word in time or did not react with sufficient haste to protect themselves against injury or death.

Along with the emergency messaging employed through radio and TV, also used was a mysterious notification called, “reverse 9-1-1.” This latter device, I understand, is a government-contracted service that automatically dials a large swath of telephones in a particular area. Although the above systems manage to get through to most people, still there are some who fall through the netting.

The San Diego fires erupted suddenly and viciously. Apart from the electronic messaging, fire, police and other uniformed units were deployed to warn people affected either to evacuate immediately or prepare for evacuation. Despite the injury and death that occurred as a result of ignoring these warnings, there are macabre signs that some illegal immigrants might have been caught unawares in the wooded areas.

During World War II, air-raid sirens were employed within earshot of populated areas. Except for the isolated shelling of certain northeastern coastal areas by German U-Boats (and possibly some innocuous balloons landing on the west coast), the contiguous forty-eight states escaped actual attack. Nevertheless, full domestic, defensive measures were employed throughout the length of the war. All homes and other structures were required to use blackout curtains in order to reduce nighttime visibility from the air. Likewise, all vehicles had to black out the upper portion of their headlights. When the air-raid siren was sounded—anytime of the day or night—all lights were extinguished and unnecessary activity was halted. Everyone was required to go indoors; non-emergency vehicles pulled over and cut their engines. The only street activity was that of emergency vehicles and the civilian air-raid wardens deployed in all neighborhoods to enforce compliance and maintain order. When the all-clear was sounded—usually within a half-hour--normal activity would resume. These assumed air-raid “drills” (one never knew whether they might be real) continued for the duration of the war. There was no television at that time. Radios were prolific; however, I do not recall if there use was permitted during the air-raid alerts.

With all of our current natural disasters—fire, flood, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes—along with catastrophic accidents and calamities of intentional human origin, it would be judicious to consider bringing back that old mournful, forlorn, ominous but effective siren alert. It could be made generally known that, whenever that signal is heard—day or night—everyone—the general populace and emergency teams alike—would understand that danger is imminent, and to turn to TV or radio for specific information and instructions. Certainly, the siren would be employed only in dire emergencies. Once the idea had sunk in, the system would serve as a comforting device; one would be assured of learning immediately when some peril jeopardized the community.