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Port Of Tampa To Replace Inoperative Warning Siren

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 12, 2009

Updated: 03/12/2009 01:58 pm

TAMPA - One of four sirens that are part of a warning system to alert the Port of Tampa and adjacent neighborhoods to an uncontrolled release of anhydrous ammonia is inoperative and must be replaced, port officials said this morning

Port officials said this morning that sirens on Davis Islands, Palmetto Beach and Hookers Point will provide protection to residents and port employees until the siren at the Kinder Morgan – Yara North America site at the Port Sutton area of the port is repaired.

"In no way is there any new risk to anyone," port operations director Steve Felder said in an e-mail.

"The facilities can activate all or one siren in the system and there are specific protocols in place at each terminal (for) how and when to activate the siren system. Palmetto Beach and Davis Islands have fully functioning sirens that can be activated should it be required."

A warning system was put into place in the mid -1990s to sound an alarm for about a mile around facilities handling anhydrous ammonia, which can burn a person's skin and eyes and affect the lungs.

The port in 1997 installed an area-wide system that can be heard for up to three miles and created a neighborhood outreach program to educate neighborhood and civic groups, schools and office complexes about potential problems with an uncontrolled release of the chemical.

The siren was knocked from its pole in the southeast portion of the port during a weather front three weeks ago. Replacement could take five weeks, port officials said. The recommended bid to repair the system would cost $17,150 and will be considered at Tuesday's monthly port authority meeting.

Three port facilities handle anhydrous ammonia: CF Industries, Yara North America and Kinder Morgan.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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