San Francisco is set to upgrade its Outdoor Public Warning System, a currently unused siren system for emergencies or disasters. The decision comes in the wake of a tragically failed wildfire warning in Maui.
Mayor London Breed and Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin announced plans on Thursday to prioritize the enhancement of the city’s warning system. The sirens, which were tested every Tuesday at noon, formed a familiar part of San Francisco’s soundscape until 2019, when they were deactivated over concerns the system could be hacked.
“The recent devastation in Maui was a tragic example of how important emergency notifications to residents, businesses and tourists are,” Mayor Breed stated.
The first phase of the upgrade and implementation is slated to begin within the next six months, with an estimated cost of about $5 million, according to the mayor’s office.
Besides the outdoor warning system, the city also maintains the ability to send emergency messages to any cell phone within a specified geographic area.
The upgrade comes after Maui’s outdoor siren warning system failed to activate during a wind-fueled wildfire that rapidly swept through Lahaina and other regions, resulting in the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.