PORT ANGELES — The tsunami siren on Marine Drive in Port Angeles that was toppled by a driver in April is going to be replaced, according to Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Cameron, the county’s emergency management director.
“Several agencies came together and have developed a plan to replace the siren,” Cameron said in a news release. “Clallam County, the city of Port Angeles, the Port of Port Angeles, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and the state have worked together to find funding to replace the siren.
“The State Emergency Management Division is taking the lion’s share of the replacement cost, but having the local agencies contribute was a valuable step and demonstrates the commitment to emergency preparation.”
No timeline has been set.
Each local government agency will commit $2,500 toward the replacement, and Clallam County Emergency Management will fund new batteries for the siren, the release stated.
The state will pick up the rest of the tab and aid with the installation. The estimated cost is $45,000.
The equipment, known as an All Hazard Alert Broadcast Siren, was located near the Port Angeles Boat Haven on Marine Drive. It was discovered to be knocked down April 7 when police responded to two men who had been arguing at the Fairchild Heights apartments, Port Angeles Police Corporal Bruce Fernie said.
Police determined the argument was about a collision in the 700 block of West Marine Drive near the toppled siren.
The driver did not have insurance, and the state and county couldn’t agree on who owned or who should be responsible for replacing it, delaying the project.
“Located near the Port Angeles Boat Haven, the siren was in a very important location as boaters, industry and more rely on this as an early warning system for some tsunami situations,” the release stated.
“All sirens are in very valued locations and not having one near the boat haven is noticed. During the Great Shakeout in October, when the sirens are tested, several people in that area noticed they couldn’t hear a siren. This makes it important to get it back up and running soon.”
The state confirmed it will work to get quotes and parts ordered for installation, according to the release.
The siren is operated by the Emergency Management Division of the Washington Military Department, but the county kept it operational locally.
The Marine Drive siren was one of 122 warning sirens scattered along coastal waters around the state.
In Clallam County, sirens are located at La Push, Neah Bay and other locations on the Makah Reservation, Hoko River, Clallam Bay and Sekiu, the Lower Elwha Klallam reservation, Port Angeles, the Dungeness and Jamestown communities north of Sequim, Blyn and Diamond Point.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at brian.gawley@peninsula dailynews.com.
