Calhan, Colorado Siren

Calhan's tornado siren. It is a Federal Signal 550-AT.

Calhan's Tornado Warning Protocol calls for 1x one minute activation for tornado warning, and a 3 minute "Alert" tone to signal an All-Clear. On test day, the siren is sounded for one minute - three times successively, and a three minute final activation.

An "Attack" has been used in the past for a tornado warning when one was spotted just east of Calhan on 8/09/2004.

It is tested once annually at 7:00PM the first Friday in May.


Due to some discussion with the town's EMA, We are getting a generator and a timer/remote activation capability added to the siren. Right now, its just an on/off switch in the police station. With a remote activate, the Office of Emergency Management in Colorado Springs will now be able to activate it ahead of storms and other emergencies.
Next item on the list is to get monthly testing (during severe weather season) and on the state's Severe Weather Awareness day.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• calhan
• colorado
• el
• paso
• county
• siren
• Federal
• Signal
• FS
• CD
• civil
• defense
• 550AT
• mass
• warning
• system

[STG44musikmeister]

We've got a Model 5 I believe, in Black Forest. Just drove to Fountain today and saw what looked to be Model 5 or 7 on a school. A now silent reminder of a time gone by.

[djscrizzle]

@STG44musikmeister It's a 5 from what I could tell, maybe a 5T. It used to be the fire siren for BFVFD, now a mile SE of their former location @ Black Forest & Hodgkin roads.

Wouldn't take much to get that 50-year old thing back in service either, seeing as it was left as-is.

[09falcon]

do you know by chance if there is any warning system for falcon. cuz calhan is still pretty far away and i know of none for falcon.

[djscrizzle]

There are no outdoor warning sirens in Falcon. People residing there (and most of the county for that matter) have to rely on TV, Radio, or Internet for their warning. If you're outside, you wont know until its too late, sadly.

[Siren1000T1]

The second time he recorded this, he actually stood almost underneath the siren but there was a little too much sound distort from that position.

[RubiksCuber4426]

8/12.

[ricofojas2011]

are 550ats still made?.

[TrueWolverine87]

@acahurricane1275 Federal 550AT: 127 dB @ 100 ft. (according to somebody on the air raid siren forums)

[misterrailroadman]

There is a 4/5 port thunderbolt siren. How about a 4/5 port 550-at siren.

[acahurricane1275]

heres some locations of the 550 at's that were spotted

sugar city,co - 253 colorado street

manitou springs,co- 595 el paso blvd

calhan (obviously)

st louis,mo - used to have 1 or so

colorado springs,co -removed in 1989

newark,nj

[acahurricane1275]

@JRCollinsfan no Sugar city,colorado has a 550at

[acahurricane1275]

this siren is so rare , how loud is it at 100ft

[TheJamesmario]

i wonder when i will find a video of this siren in attack mode

[misterrailroadman]

@kd0duj I agree with you. Do you think it can beat any other siren?

[misterrailroadman]

@Branden2732 Why would you say the 2001 is on crack, lol?

[misterrailroadman]

This siren is the best siren of all. It looks bigger then any other siren and the way that there is a high pitch side. and a low pitch side. That would be an attention getter.