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| Part 1: Big Rapids
| | This page is currently being re-done to display correct information about the siren system. If you have information on the system, PLEASE send me a PM. |
| Big Rapids is a city in Mecosta County, Michigan with a population of 10,601. It is the county seat of Mecosta County, and is the home to Ferris State University.
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| Part 2: Original System
| | -nvanw27 |
| On September 27, 1970, Federal Signal Corporation manufactured 5 sirens destined to be installed in Big Rapids. They were 3 (three) Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1000Ts, and 2 (two) Federal Signal 2T22s. They were installed at an unknown date in the following locations:
| | [[Category:Systems]] |
| Thunderbolt 1 [Site 1]: BIg Rapids DPW (Chopper ?, 4M, A2, ⅚)
| | __INDEX__ |
| Thunderbolt 2 [Site 2]: Mecosta County Fairgrounds (Chopper 4, 4M, A2, ⅚)
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| Thunderbolt 3 [Site 3]: Atop the Business Building at FSU [Removed] (Chopper 1, 4M, A2, ⅚)
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| 2T22 1 [Site 4]: Atop Big Rapids City Hall
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| 2T22 2 [Site 5]: River Street Park
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| Part 3: University Upgrade and Mystery
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| In 2008, Ferris State University decided that they needed their own system, and the Thunderbolt [Site 3] atop the Business Building was subsequently removed. The University purchased 3 (three) Federal Signal Modulator 3012 sirens, 2 (two) Federal Signal Modulator 4016 sirens, 1 (one) Federal Signal Modulator 5020 siren, and 1 (one) Federal Signal DSA siren. Locations are:
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| Ice Arena (3012)
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| Family Drive (3012)
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| Book Store (3012)
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| Science Building (4016)
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| Atop Business Building (4016)
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| Katke Golf Course (5020)
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| Tennis Course (DSA)
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| The DSA siren was a mystery from 2008 to 2018. The University Police Department stated that there were 7 sirens, however the 7th siren could not be found. Several enthusiasts assumed it did not exist, however on August 27 2018, the 7th siren was found to be a DSA located at the tennis center about .5 miles away from campus.
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| Part 4: Other Information
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| On March 27, 2019, for the Michigan SWA drill, the Thunderbolt [Site 2] was recorded for the test, dispelling some mysteries surrounding the Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts were figured out to be on 4M blowers, being ⅚ Port, and running about 1 minute of Attack for a Tornado Warning. The Fire Department did state that an All Clear signal was tested, most likely Alert, but it was never toned out.
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| The University sounds in Attack for warnings, Westminster Chimes for All Clear, and Hi-Lo and Voice for tests.
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| My Mother attended classes on the Business Building in the ‘90s, and she did state that the Thunderbolt shook the building when it was tested! It sounded at a very low frequency and was on Chopper Level 1, along with the blower being installed inside the building!
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| [[Category:Michigan systems]]
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