Cheyenne, WY

A Federal Signal 2001-SRN in Cheyenne.

The **Cheyenne** **siren system** is a system comprising of 34 2001-130s and SRNs. The system covers the city of Cheyenne and several smaller communities.

Despite appearing relatively simple on the surface, the Cheyenne siren system goes back 3 decades, installed after a devastating tornado ripped through the city. However, only 1 of these former sirens has managed to survive to the present day.

## History

Not much is known about Cheyenne's siren system pre-1980. We know of 3 Thunderbolt 1000Ts, located on the Cheyenne Municipal Building, Cheyenne Family YMCA, and Carey Junior High School.

On July 16, 1979, an EF-3 tornado tore through northern parts of Cheyenne, injuring 40 and killing 1. Many residents complained that sirens were not heard. With northern Cheyenne in shambles, many of the populous in shock, and little to no notification occurring throughout the event, it became obvious that more sirens were needed. Starting in 1980, residents began to make the first moves. Various neighborhoods began going door-to-door for donations, with those in the Buffalo Ridge subdivision having their eyes set on an ACA Screamer. State Farm offered $68,400 in matching grants.

By early June of 1980, three sirens had arrived in Cheyenne, with another eight on order. According to the Casper Star-Tribune, both Buffalo Ridge Elementary and the Sun Valley subdivision were to receive ACA Cyclones. This would hold true, as the city was ordering Banshees and Cyclones from ACA. By 1982, the city had 14 sirens total. Before long, this number climbed to 17. This consisted of the original Thunderbolts, along with the Banshees and Cyclones. 13 of the former ACA siren sites have been found, along with one Banshee that is still standing but not operational. Interestingly, the Buffalo Ridge Screamer was never installed. The locations were as follows:

### Cyclones

* Jessup Elementary School
* Buffalo Ridge Elementary School
* East High School
* United Nations Park

### Banshees

* Alley between Malibu Court and Bonneville Place
* Intersection of Yellowstone Road and Carlson Street
* Mylar Park
* Cheyenne Fire Station #5
* Dildine Elementary School
* Goins Elementary School

Out of these 10 locations, only 1 remains, the Deming Elementary School Banshee. According to a Wyoming Tribune Eagle newspaper, there was an accidental activation in mid-1982.
During a tornado warning in 1991, many office workers around the capitol complex reported that they could not hear the fire station siren. This is odd, considering the Thunderbolt is only a quarter of a mile away. Nevertheless, the state set aside $5,000, and a new STH-10 was placed atop the Hathaway Building, a five-story government building across from the Supreme Court of Wyoming and down the street from the state capitol. According to an article from the same year, a "speaker system" atop the capitol building is also mentioned.

Come the late 90s, it had become apparent that Cheyenne "outgrew" its siren system, and the sirens got old. After many years of service, Cheyenne began to refer to its sirens as "outdated" and "obsolete". Apparently, they were additionally having difficulties finding parts for their sirens and were having problems with many of them, too; lightning and radio issues to name a few.

In early 2002, brand new Federal Signal 2001-SRNs begin to arrive. By April of that year, 30 2001's stood throughout Cheyenne and other parts of the county. All of the ACA sirens were removed not long after, except for the Banshee at Deming Elementary School for unknown reasons. The STH-10 atop the Hathway Building appears to have been removed around 2013. It appears that the Thunderbolts atop the YMCA and Carey Junior High School were also removed within a couple of years. They did, however, run along with the 2001s for a short period of time.

In 2015, Laramie County added 15 2001-130s throughout the city and the county. Most notably, the last remaining Thunderbolt on the Municipal Building was replaced. This left only the Banshee at Deming for any semblance of the past. Since then, it appears they've been adding more and more sirens as time goes on.

## Schedule

Cheyenne tests their sirens on the first day of every month at 12:00 PM, weather permitting. The sirens are activated by the Cheyenne/Laramie County Emergency Management Agency.

## Gallery

The Municipal Building Thunderbolt.The Cheyenne Family YMCA Thunderbolt.The Carey Junior High School Thunderbolt.The Buffalo Ridge Elementary Cyclone.The Dildine Elementary Banshee.The Fire Station 5 Banshee.The Hathaway Building STH-10.The Goins Elementary School Banshee and 2001.The Deming Elementary School Banshee and 2001.
## References

1. ↑ It was possibly out of service for a while before and may well have been removed due to renovations on the roof.