LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Keeping thousands safe this week for Derby is quite an undertaking.

Louisville’s emergency management team has some new tools in the toolbelt this year to help with that effort.

One of those new tools, a mobile siren, is going to be rolled out at Churchill Downs later this week, ramping up efforts to keep everyone safe at Derby.

Whether it’s applauding the star-spangled banner or cheering on the long shot around the final turn, it can be a challenge to get an emergency message to thousands.

“We come together every year,” Louisville’s emergency management director Jody Meiman said. “We get together as soon as the events are over to see what we did good and what we could do better next year.”

Preparing for Louisville’s flurry of big event after big event, Meiman had his eyes on a new piece of equipment: a mobile siren.

“It’s really going to enhance our special event capabilities and how we can get our messages out to the public,” Meiman said.

It works just like the 136 weather sirens over Jefferson County but it can be wheeled anywhere and comes with a little bonus feature. Emergency management can use it as a giant PA system to put out messages or storm warnings.

When it can extend 30 feet up in the air and withstand 100 mile per hour windspeeds, Meiman said the mobile siren will go a long way in preventing panic in an emergency or mass evacuation.

“We could even just get on there and say there’s a situation going on, don’t panic, stay in your location,” he said.

Not only could you hear voices in the sky Derby week, but Meiman promises watchful eyes will be everywhere.

“We can see things happen here a lot of times from the cameras before the boots on the ground can see them,” Meiman said.

Emergency management will deploy its mobile camera trailer, capable of tapping into cameras all over Churchill Downs as well as put some additional eyes on the race grounds.

“It gives the people a peace of mind that the big brother’s watching in the sky,” Meiman said. “If something happens, we know there’s going to be a fast response.”

Big brother’s watching, but not quite like how across the country, all eyes will be on Derby 150.

“This is a fun time of year it’s busy, but it’s fun,” Meiman said. “I like to see our city highlighted.”

Emergency management is already planning for Derby 151.

If all goes according to plan, next year it will have a new mobile command post to use – complete with new drone capabilities and cameras.

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