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SF’s Silent Sirens and the Cost of Inaction | Oakland News
Description
San Francisco’s century-old emergency siren system, silent since 2019 after a hacking scare, is now under fire from a Civil Grand Jury demanding action — fix it or scrap it. Once a weekly noon ritual, the 119-siren network has fallen into disrepair, with corroded equipment, safety hazards, and maintenance halted due to lack of funding. Originally budgeted at $20 million, upgrades now likely cost far more. Critics argue the system remains vital for coastal neighborhoods like the Sunset District, especially during tsunamis, where sirens offer a critical backup for those without cell phones. Meanwhile, the city’s mobile alert system, AlertSF, often fails to deliver clear, actionable instructions — leaving residents confused in emergencies.
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