New sirens will alert Santa Ana residents of landslide risk

SANTA ANA, COSTA RICA – September 30^th 2012 – A new siren will warn residents of Santa Ana when there is risk of a landslide from the “Cerro Tapezco”. The siren was successfully tested on Friday.

“The idea of this is to familiarize the citizens of Santa Ana with the sound of the siren, as well as to test and make sure that the sound reaches all of the places that may be at risk in case of an emergency, “ said Gerardo Oviedo, mayor of Santa Ana.

The siren was heard in downtown Santa Ana, as well as Salitral, however, was not heard in other parts of the town. Authorities stated, however, that the siren was heard in all of the areas that could be affected in case of such a hazard.

Another siren was placed in Salitral, which was also tested on Friday.  As part of the disaster prevention plan, signs will be placed guiding citizens to 17 evacuation routes, if a landslide were to occur.

Aside from the sirens and the signage, the city has attempted to inform its residents with flyers and loudspeakers of the various evacuation routes.