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Sevierville considering new emergency sirens

Sevierville is weighing the benefit of more than a dozen emergency alert sirens.

Sevierville escaped the worst of last year’s wildfire, but the city still took notice. Now city leaders are considering an expanded emergency alert system, including a network of warning sirens.

City leaders heard their first proposal on the subject Monday.

“It’s something we need,” said Sevierville mayor Bryan Atchley.

Sevierville Fire Chief Matt Henderson presented a tentative plan to the board. He said sirens from contractor Federal Signals, which installed existing units in Gatlinburg, run between $26,000 and $36,000 each. They will likely need at least 13 to cover the entire town, he said.

Sevierville discusses new emergency sirens.
An emergency alert siren in Gatlinburg designed by Federal Signals. Sevierville is considering identical devices.

“It’s not cheap, but if it can help save businesses and save lives, it would be worth it,” said Atchley.

The initial plan is to install most of the sirens at schools within the city limits, but that may need some adjustment, Henderson said, to reach all neighborhoods. He is sending topographical data to the company to better refine placement of the sirens.

Gatlinburg has installed several units downtown, and more are planned for Chalet Village.

Henderson said the sirens can also carry networking speakers for direct communication.

“I think it’s very valuable, especially with a device where you can speak the message, and instantly when they hear that message they know what action they need to take,” he said.

Henderson acknowledge that Sevierville’s fire risk is lower than other parts of the county, but he said the devices could also be useful in a tornado or flood event.

He said he hopes they can all learn lessons from the 2016 fires.

“Awareness,” he said. “We don’t need to forget it anytime soon.”

The project is still in the very early stages, but will be discussed at future workshops. Atchley hopes they can budget for the sirens in 2018.

Aldermen also discussed new wayfinding signs for the city, but Atchley said those are primarily intended to improve tourist navigation, not emergency egress.

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