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Power cut exposes Sydney's alarm flaw
Source: Agencies |
April 1, 2009, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A MAJOR blackout that wreaked havoc during rush hour in Australia's largest city has exposed a flaw in the city's terrorism warning system, the government acknowledged yesterday.
A network of loudspeakers in Sydney designed to alert people during emergencies has no battery backup, said New South Wales Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan, which would render it useless if there is a total power failure.
"There may be a need now to talk to my Cabinet colleagues and others about whether or not some other sort of upgrades are needed to the system," Whan said.
The loudspeakers were not activated in downtown Sydney during Monday's chaotic two-hour power outage, which dimmed traffic lights, caused gridlock on the roads, trapped office workers in elevators and left 70,000 homes and businesses in darkness.
Deputy New South Wales Police Commissioner Dave Owens said the warning network was not activated because it was designed primarily to evacuate people, but that the system would have worked on Monday because it is powered by five separate electricity substations - and not all were affected by the power outage.
The network of 98 loudspeakers and 13 messaging signs were installed in 2007 as a mode of communicating with residents during a terrorist attack or other emergency. The speakers emit a wailing siren to attract people's attention, followed by a police announcement directing people to evacuation points around the downtown area.
The effectiveness of the system has been questioned in recent months after some of the alarms failed to sound during tests and many people complained they couldn't hear them.
Owens said he authorized police to send out text message alerts to around 2,400 building managers and fire wardens. However, the alerts were not sent out until 40 minutes after the power was cut. By that time, most office workers who weren't trapped in elevators had already left their darkened buildings.
"I believe 40 minutes was an acceptable time," Owens said.
Opposition spokesman Duncan Gay criticized the government's response, saying it made Sydney a more vulnerable terror target.
A network of loudspeakers in Sydney designed to alert people during emergencies has no battery backup, said New South Wales Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan, which would render it useless if there is a total power failure.
"There may be a need now to talk to my Cabinet colleagues and others about whether or not some other sort of upgrades are needed to the system," Whan said.
The loudspeakers were not activated in downtown Sydney during Monday's chaotic two-hour power outage, which dimmed traffic lights, caused gridlock on the roads, trapped office workers in elevators and left 70,000 homes and businesses in darkness.
Deputy New South Wales Police Commissioner Dave Owens said the warning network was not activated because it was designed primarily to evacuate people, but that the system would have worked on Monday because it is powered by five separate electricity substations - and not all were affected by the power outage.
The network of 98 loudspeakers and 13 messaging signs were installed in 2007 as a mode of communicating with residents during a terrorist attack or other emergency. The speakers emit a wailing siren to attract people's attention, followed by a police announcement directing people to evacuation points around the downtown area.
The effectiveness of the system has been questioned in recent months after some of the alarms failed to sound during tests and many people complained they couldn't hear them.
Owens said he authorized police to send out text message alerts to around 2,400 building managers and fire wardens. However, the alerts were not sent out until 40 minutes after the power was cut. By that time, most office workers who weren't trapped in elevators had already left their darkened buildings.
"I believe 40 minutes was an acceptable time," Owens said.
Opposition spokesman Duncan Gay criticized the government's response, saying it made Sydney a more vulnerable terror target.
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