Bug in Software Caused Fort Worth Siren Malfunction

System in "sleep mode" until permanent fix

A bug in the software that runs Fort Worth's alert sirens led to a startling wake-up call for some residents.

The emergency management coordinator for the city, Juan Ortiz,  said the 8-year-old system was not hacked last month when 59 of the 153 sirens went off.

While the emergency management folks work to fix the problem, the system is in "sleep mode" so this doesn't happen again.

If there is a weather emergency in the meantime the sirens will be set off manually, which takes about 20 seconds longer than if the system is working properly.

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