Siren Failure Caused by Power Loss to Siren-Activating Radio

A review of the failed initial attempts to activate the Village of Downers Grove’s outdoor warning sirens Aug. 18 shows a power supply failure for the radio that activates the sirens is to blame.

A daily system test was conducted at 5:40 a.m. Aug. 18. The power to primary and backup supplies failed after that test, but before the siren was needed at 8:07 p.m., according to the village.

The was no indication that the power supply had failed before the attempts to use the sirens. The sirens were activated remotely at 8:13 p.m. by Fulton Technologies, the siren and equipment vendor.

The sirens had passed their most recent monthly test on Aug. 4.

The village has taken steps to improve the system, including “automatic, immediate notifications to key village staff of primary power supply failure, backup power supply failure and other system failure,” according to the village.