Two years after an EF-3 tornado struck Pasadena, Texas, the city has taken a significant step toward weather preparedness by installing 30 state-of-the-art tornado sirens. This $1.3 million investment enhances emergency warning systems, ensuring residents receive alerts even during power outages.
Features of Pasadena’s New Tornado Sirens
These new sirens come with advanced technology to ensure maximum coverage and effectiveness. Key features include:
Rotating sirens for better sound distribution
Flashing lights to alert the hard of hearing
Battery and solar-powered operation to work even during power failures
Why Pasadena Chose to Install Tornado Sirens
According to Azell Carter, Pasadena’s Emergency Management Coordinator, community members pushed for additional weather alert methods. Many areas north of Texas already use sirens for straight-line winds and severe weather, which inspired Pasadena’s decision.
“Our partners to the north of Texas, they use the sirens for a myriad of different things—straight-line winds, things of that nature. So that was also brought up to us by our citizens, ‘Why don’t you use your sirens for possible severe weather?'” – Azell Carter
Why Tornado Sirens Are Rare in Southeast Texas
While tornado sirens are common in Tornado Alley, the Midwest, and the Southeast, they are rare in Southeast Texas due to:
High costs of installation and maintenance
Houston’s past experience—the city had Cold War-era sirens until the 1990s but removed them due to upkeep costs
However, after the devastation caused by the 2023 EF-3 tornado, Pasadena decided to make this long-term investment in public safety.
Dual-Purpose Sirens for Weather and Industrial Emergencies
Since Southeastern Harris County is a major oil and gas hub, Pasadena’s sirens will serve dual purposes:
Severe Weather Alerts – Tornadoes, high winds, and shelter-in-place warnings
Chemical Emergencies – Industrial incidents requiring immediate public notification
“We’re explicitly saying that we’re going to use our sirens that we also use for chemical emergencies. They will also double to be used for shelter in place for severe weather activity as well,” Carter explained.
Testing Schedule for Pasadena’s New Sirens
The first official test of the new sirens will take place at noon on Saturday, February 8. After that, the sirens will be tested weekly at noon every Saturday.
How Will Residents Be Notified?
To avoid confusion, the City of Pasadena will send out push alerts through the ReadyPasadena alert system before each test. In addition, the city has been actively informing the public through:
Neighborhood HOA meetings
Social media campaigns
Local news updates
With the installation of 30 new tornado sirens, Pasadena, Texas, is making a strong commitment to public safety. These sirens will help alert residents to severe weather and industrial emergencies, ensuring faster response times and better preparedness. By taking this proactive approach, Pasadena is setting an example for other cities in disaster readiness and community safety.
