STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The City of Sturgeon Bay is taking down its outdoor warning sirens.
The six sirens were installed in 1997. The city’s fire department says the sirens have a 25-year lifespan and would need to be replaced next year.
Citing the annual maintenance cost of $3,000-$4,000 and the $25,000 cost of each new siren, the fire department has decided not to replace them.
Firefighters also say the sirens are seldom used in severe weather situations. Sturgeon Bay has not had a tornado touchdown since 1985. The fire department says the sirens were never intended to be heard indoors or to wake people from sleeping, and it believes sirens can actually add to confusion during a severe weather situation.
“We are nostalgic for the sound of the siren test at 12 noon on the first of every month, but we are optimistic about the opportunity to free up resources to support our city in other ways by eliminating obsolete equipment,” fire chief Tim Dietman said in a news release.
To receive weather warnings while inside, the fire department recommends a NOAA weather radio.
