Sedgwick County is expecting to receive 30 new outdoor warning sirens this week to add to the county’s system. Emergency Management Director Julie Stimson told county commissioners on Wednesday that the sirens will provide coverage for Derby, Haysville, Mulvane, and an area east of McConnell Air Force Base.
Stimson gave commissioners an update during a county staff meeting on a six-year capital project to upgrade the siren system. This is the second year of the program and Stimson said it’s already helping to reduce operational costs. She said the system will be relying more on mechanical rather than electronic systems, and the mechanical equipment can be maintained at a much lesser cost. The system is also going to solar power, going away from the electrical grid that is subject to power outages during severe storms, and the solar kits are expected to save about $40,000 a year in utility costs.
Stimson said the focus will be on placing sirens to cover areas where people gather outdoors, where parks, trails and shopping areas are located, while also being mindful of new development across the county.
Stimson said the upgrade is already reducing maintenance costs, and she expects there won’t be a need for a capital program after the upgrade is complete in 2028, and the system can grow as the county grows, with the budget able to handle population growth. She said it will be important to see the current project all the way through.
