PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Providence’s rarely used siren systems to warn residents of an emergency are being phased out in favor of digital-only alerts in the coming weeks.
On Thursday, Mayor Brett Smiley and Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Clara Decerbo announced updates to the city’s Public Alert and Warning System, which are set to take effect Sept. 1.
The city’s current Port Siren System is difficult to hear during test activations and warnings, according to Decerbo. When every second counts, Decerbo said city officials determined it was time to retire the system…