Emergency Management
Siren Pilot Test
Outdoor Warning System 
Arlington County’s outdoor warning system, funded by a grant from Homeland Security, is an integral part of the County’s redundant systems to reach the public in the event of an emergency.
In March, 2007, Arlington County, along with Alexandria City, piloted a new outdoor warning system technology – sometimes referred to as “sirens” – to see if the technology could add to the emergency communications “system of systems.” The pilot was a success – and has been an effective supplement to the County’s other emergency notification systems. Arlington has used this technology many times since to alert residents and visitors to emergency situations.
Modern Warning System Technology
The outdoor system combines a horn blast with a loudspeaker, which broadcasts a clear message, giving specific instructions. (The system is routinely tested in a silent mode, without disturbing residents.)
The outdoor warning system reaches people who:
- do not have mobile devices;
- who are visiting the National Capital Region; or,
- who are outside or away from television, radio, and telephones.
In addition, the warning system can be activated in specific neighborhoods only, enabling police to help look for a lost child, for example.
Horns were installed in the following locations:
- 14th Street and N. Courthouse, Courthouse area
- Fort Myer Drive and Wilson Boulevard, Rosslyn
- N. Moore Street and 19th Street, Rosslyn
- Clarendon Blvd. and Edgewood Street, Clarendon
- S. Hayes Street and 12th Street S., Pentagon City
- Virginia Highlands Park, Pentagon City/Aurora Hills
Arlington's "System of systems"
Arlington uses a “system of systems” to provide urgent information to those who live in, work in, and visit Arlington. Arlington’s current emergency communications systems include:
- Arlington Alert, which sends text messages to mobile devices and email.
- Commercial broadcast media who receive communications from Arlington Web site updates
- 1700AM Arlington, a low-wattage radio station with Arlington-specific emergency information
- Reverse 911 for highly localized needs.
Background
On September 15, 2005, the Emergency Preparedness Council of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments received a copy and presentation of Public Safety Best Practices: Talking Siren Technology. The report highlights the potential value of outdoor voice warning systems as part of an integrated public alerting “system of systems.” The best practices identified by the study included integrated public outdoor warning systems with indoor warning such as NOAA.
The outdoor warning system concept was supported and promoted by the Arlington County Citizen Corps Council in 2004. This group of volunteers spent hundreds of hours to insure the region received funding for the outdoor warning pilot.
Arlington and Alexandria are the first jurisdictions in the region to install this type of alerting system that addresses public outreach and alerting needs for people attending special events, visiting or in transit. Outdoor warning systems are installed in other parts of the country, including San Francisco and nuclear power plants.
The outdoor warning system is manufactured by MadahCom, Inc.. For additional information on MadahCom, call 941-487-2300 or e-mail Marla Moran.
CONTACT US
Office of Emergency Management
1400 N. Uhle St., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
703-228-7935
703-228-3667 Fax
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