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3 new sirens installed; Another 6 coming- DDM

- as part of National Early Warning & Multi-hazard Alert System
The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has installed three new sirens as part of the National Early Warning and Multi-hazard Alert System used to provide immediate warning to the public in the event of any significant hazard impact. Photo: Facebook/DDM
The sirens are part of a broader network that includes 10 other sirens located on Anegada, Valley, North Sound, East End, Long Look, Russell Hill, Sea Cows Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Carrot Bay and Jost van Dyke. Photo: Facebook/DDM
The sirens are part of a broader network that includes 10 other sirens located on Anegada, Valley, North Sound, East End, Long Look, Russell Hill, Sea Cows Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Carrot Bay and Jost van Dyke. Photo: Facebook/DDM
Many of the Territory’s sirens were damaged during the hurricanes of September 2017 but the then National Democratic Party (NDP) only made moves to have the system restored after public uproar. Photo: DDM/File
Many of the Territory’s sirens were damaged during the hurricanes of September 2017 but the then National Democratic Party (NDP) only made moves to have the system restored after public uproar. Photo: DDM/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has installed three new sirens as part of the National Early Warning and Multi-hazard Alert System used to provide immediate warning to the public in the event of any significant hazard impact.

According to DDM, the new sirens are located in Kingston and Pockwood Pond on Tortola and Beef Island.

It said the sirens are part of a broader network that includes 10 other sirens located on Anegada, Valley, North Sound, East End, Long Look, Russell Hill, Sea Cows Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Carrot Bay and Jost van Dyke.

The installation works were carried out by technicians at the DDM in conjunction with colleagues from the BVI Electricity Corporation and the Department of Waste Management.

DDM added that six additional sirens will be installed in the coming months in other areas.

“The sirens were provided through the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan acquired from the Caribbean Development Bank which is being administered by the Ministry of Finance,” DDM said.

NDP dropped the ball on sirens after hurricanes

Many of the Territory’s sirens were damaged during the hurricanes of September 2017 but the then National Democratic Party (NDP) only made moves to have the system restored after public uproar.

It was on January 10, 2018 that a Tsunami warning was issued for the Territory, following a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred north of Honduras, but the sirens could not be used to alert the population.
After much pressure the then NDP Government approved the expenditure of four hundred and forty two thousand dollars ($442,000), to re-establish the National Early Warning System and restore the DDM Headquarters.

9 Responses to “3 new sirens installed; Another 6 coming- DDM”

  • asking for a friend (03/03/2020, 08:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the cost?
  • great (03/03/2020, 08:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's good. I'm hoping they put a monitoring Camera at the same time with each of these Sirenes . Killing two Birds with one stone makes more economical sense. More crime prevention/solving sense... Hope different departments can see the need to work together for the betterment of the BVI.
  • Ok now (03/03/2020, 09:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are not loud enough
  • Captain (03/03/2020, 12:01) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is it possible that these sirens can also act as a public address system? After Irma nobody knew what was happening and a lot of people did not know Hurricane Maria was coming. Also it would have been nice to know where we could get tarps or drinking water, again a public address system to let the public know what is happening would be a great relief after a disaster.
  • rewrsdffds (03/03/2020, 12:11) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why isn’t Brewers Bay on that list? We pay tax to.
  • DDM (03/03/2020, 14:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The three sirens and the additional six have pubic address capabilities. We have a few that are only tones.
  • Fran (03/03/2020, 19:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have been begging for years to have one in Josiah's Bay, we can't hear crap when it goes off in Long Look. The beach will swell and wash us away because we hear no warning sirens.....EVER!!! We pay our taxes too! SMDH!
  • NezRez (06/03/2020, 16:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with Fran. We are sitting ducks in Josiah’s Bay. I have never heard the siren on Fridays each month when they said it would be tested. At least put one at the top of the hill or on the flat down here, so we can escape a Tusunami if it hits. Please consider us down here.


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