Emergency Management
The Southlake Emergency Management Office was created in response to the growing concern of natural or technological disasters adversly affecting the citizens, visitors, or businesses within Southlake. The main focus of the Emergency Management Office is to reduce or eliminate the city's vulnerability to disasters by actively enganging in hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness activities. The four key areas to emergency management are hazard mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and Disaster Recovery. Most experts agree that Hazard Mitigation is the most important aspect of emergency management and the cornerstone of any disaster readiness program.
The City of Southlake is fortunate to operate our own Community Warning System. This system includes 5 Outdoor Warning Sirens and an AM radio station. Both systems are used to alert citizens of impending emergencies, including severe weather. In order to ensure the that all the mechanical parts of the siren are used regularly and that the sirens are working properly, we test the sirens once a month. The sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of each month at noon and each test lasts approximately 3 minutes. In the event of an actual emergency, the sirens will not be tested, but instead sounded to alert citizens to the emergency. The Outdoor Warning Sirens are strategically placed to provide maximum coverage to both parks and outdoor gathering areas. The AM radio station will be used to broadcast non-commercial, voice only, community and emergency information on station 790 AM. These two new additions will help ensure Southlake is one of the most prepared cities in Nort Texas.
When severe weather strikes, an early warning can be the difference between life and death. Having immediate, accurate and up to date information regarding a disaster is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones. In a severe weather situation having accurate information will help you in deciding what course of action should be taken to best protect you and your family. One of the best ways in which to receive severe weather warnings is through the use of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio. The Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information from the National Weather Service Office in Fort Worth. The National Weather Service broadcasts warnings, watches, and forecasts 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The Weather Radio is an all hazards radio network, which provides information on both natural (such as tornados and severe weather) and environmental hazards (such as chemical releases and oil spills). The Weather Radio also provides post-event information after the hazard has passed. Purchasing a weather radio is an easy and inexpensive way to protect both you and your family. What Can You Do To Be Prepared? Being prepared for a disaster or emergency is everyone's responsibility. Knowing what to do in a tornado, fire or other emergency is critical to protecting you and your family. We encourage every resident of Southlake to sit down with their family and create a plan of what to do in an emergency.
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