WATCH: Storm Siren Removal Furthers Case For New Technology

SAN ANGELO, TX -- If you happened to drive past Bradford Elementary on Tuesday morning you may have noticed something missing. The bright yellow storm siren and the pole it stood on for decades in front of the school was extracted by a City of San Angelo crew. 

The City of San Angelo has made it clear especially in the recent months following the tornado that swept through the north side in May that phasing out storm sirens for a new and improved technology IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) is the future of emergency management in San Angelo and Tom Green County.  IPAWS relies on your cell phone to alert you of bad weather.

San Angelo Fire Department Chiefs Brian Dunn and Todd Sanford explained the new system in-depth back in May.

WATCH: The storm siren in front of Bradford Elementary taken down

The removal of sirens like the the one located in front of Bradford Elementary means savings for taxpayers. According to the San Angelo Fire Department, when the sirens were fully functional they were accumulating annual electricity costs between $5,500 to $6,000 and Dunn estimated about $20,000 per year in repairs.

Aside from electricity costs, Chief Brian Dunn told San Angelo LIVE!  the biggest expense would have been the $500,000-$750,000 to replace the system because of the unavailability of parts to fix the sirens which most were made between the 1950s and 1970s.

According to Chief Brian Dunn, more sirens like the Bradford Elementary siren can be expected to be taken down throughout the city over the coming months.