Must be a better way

I note the projects manager, Tauranga City Council, Howard Severinsen reports the Christchurch Tsunami warning sirens may not have been heard for two reasons, one being that as this was a test the loudness would not have been at the level it would be if they were being used in an actual emergency. Pardon me; but why would anyone test any equipment intending to propose its use, at any level other than its best. The suggestion is ridiculous, as is the whole idea of the use of sirens – unless of the standard of the bombing warnings in the UK during World War II, 72 years ago. The effective technology was available then.
Pursuing the path of a warning system based on sirens seems to be a waste of time and money. Surely, with the massive advances made in communications, there must be a simpler and more direct way of setting up a Tsunami warning system. I hope someone in this field can enter into the debate. After all, we are already frequently subjected to at least three regular users of sirens as warning systems.

Barry H Walker, Mt Maunganui