PLATTEVILLE — A siren system set up to protect residents of this Weld County town from nuclear fallout is being dusted off to save people from another deadly tornado.
Public Service Co., which operated the nearby Fort St. Vrain nuclear power plant, gave the town a siren in the late 1970s to help warn residents of any kind of accident at the facility.
The siren included a rotating speaker that broadcasted instructions in every direction in case of an impending disaster.
But when the nuclear plant closed in 1989, the speaker system became defunct, said Gary Sandau, chief of the Platteville- Gilcrest Fire Protection District.
Now, it’s time to fire it up again.
“Really, we just want to be proactive, and try and keep ahead of any problems,” Sandau said.
Xcel Energy, which owns Public Service, reopened Fort St. Vrain in 2001 after converting it to a natural-gas-powered plant.
The speaker system is part of an overhaul of the town’s emergency management operation that began in the fall. Local leaders — including school officials — want to build a more coordinated response to natural and man-made calamities.
Two other sirens, originally bought by the town, also have gone dormant, Sandau said.
Last month’s tornado in Weld County — which killed one man — emphasized the importance of getting all three operational, but especially the public-address system.
“When the tornado hit, there was no information about what was going on, and people didn’t know what was happening,” Sandau said, adding that the first tornado hit right in the middle of the 122-square-mile fire protection district.
The town cranked up the old Public Service siren last week, and it gave a wail that startled some in the community of 3,000. Now, the town has to work out the kinks in an old system.
Police Chief Troy Renken — born and raised in north-central Kansas — was used to warning sirens, but when he took over as chief in Platteville four years ago, he realized no one took tornadoes seriously.
“Just because of the culture and the weather patterns here, it hasn’t been much of an issue,” Renken said.
He said the town may ask for federal dollars to bring the operation online. “These are key to an early response and asset to the community.”
Larry Witherspoon — chairman of the fire district board of directors — said the old Public Service siren had its flaws.
“Some parts of the town couldn’t even it hear it,” he said.
More tests are needed to see how the town can amplify the siren, officials said.
Still, revamping it is seen as a worthwhile venture, he said.
“I think there is desire in the community to see how this will work.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
Waiting for a disaster
Public Service Co., which operated the Fort St. Vrain nuclear power plant, gave nearby Platteville a siren in the late 1970s to help warn residents of any kind of accident at the facility. The siren included a rotating speaker that broadcasted instructions in every direction in case of an impending disaster. As part of the town’s efforts to resurrect the warning system, Platteville cranked up the siren last week.
