By: MILO DAILEY, Staff Writer June 26, 2000 The sick-sounding siren system that produced only a choked howl last Thursday should have its computer program repaired for testing at the end of this week, according to Watertown Fire Chief Larry Anderson.

The test Friday didnt happen, Anderson told the Public Opinion Monday morning.

The long and the short of it is, he said, they had a programming error and maybe we should just leave it at that.

The defective programmed computer chip in each of the citys new 17 warning sirens will be replaced this week, Anderson added, So representatives from the company had to go back to the factory and get a part for each siren.

What if theres a real tornado bearing down on Watertown this week until the part is replaced?

Anderson said They assured us that it was ready in case of a tornado warning and it would work.

On the other hand, he said, In a push, the old siren system is still up and running, so were not without protection. We do believe the new system will work and the old system is still in place.

The unannounced test Thursday afternoon and lack of the announced test Friday brought questions over the weekend as many residents near the new sirens talked about weak volume on the warning they heard.

Anderson said, They were doing some other testing ... and they were using only two speakers. Thats why the sound levels were very low, he said.

Then Friday, he said, the planned test wasnt done.

The thing is that all 17 have to be reprogrammed for the test, Anderson said.

But, he said, the test mode supposedly is the only one with problems.

At the end of the week we will be doing the test with the tornado warning and the severe thunderstorm warning, he said.

To ensure theyre working, Anderson said, We are going to have volunteers near each site to make sure each site is working.

Its kind of typical when you install that many, he said. and this is just things they would normally do to get them all set up.

The siren system provides coverage for all of Watertown, all of the Lake Kampeska area and part of the Pelican Lake Area. The system can be expanded in the future if needed to accommodate growth in the community, http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=572821&BRD=1166&PAG=461&dept_id=91684

-- Doris (reaper1@mindspring.com), June 27, 2000