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Community Warning System
Ovilla's Community Warning System
About The Warning System
Scheduled Test Times
If The Siren Sounds & An Emergency Exists
Watches & Warnings
When Thunderstorms Approach
About The Warning System
The City of Ovilla All Hazard Community warning System is a dual component system. The specifically designed system for Ovilla provides extensive coverage for the city with the strategically placed sirens. Ovilla's All Hazard Warning Sirens manufactured by Federal Signal Corp. have been installed world wide and continues to be a leader in notification of the general public. The siren is mounted on galvanized metal pole anchored in engineered concrete footings. The siren has four unique tones it can broadcast. The siren is radio activated by specially trained personnel of the Ovilla Fire Department.
Scheduled Test Times
The scheduled test times nationwide for sounding the siren are on the first Wednesday of every month at 2pm. In Ovilla, we will also test on the first Saturday of every month at 2pm. Ovilla's warning siren is capable of creating more than just one alert tone. In an effort to lessen any chance of confusion, only one tone will be used to notify the citizenry of an emergency. The tone was chosen because it does NOT sound like an emergency vehicle siren. There will be occasions when the siren test will be done using the other alert tones that the system is capable of broadcasting.
If The Siren Sounds & An Emergency Exits
When you hear the emergency sirens sound, immediately go indoors to a safe place, preferably in the interior portion of the building away from windows and exterior walls. Tune into local media or a weather alert radio for current information.
If you have signed up for the City of Ovilla Connect CTY program, you may get weather alerts from the National Weather Service concerning the current situation. The sign-up location for that service is on the front page of the City of Ovilla website.
Please do not venture outside until the storm has passed.
Watches And Warnings
A Weather Watch is issued by the National Weather Service Sever Storms Office in Kansas City, MO. A Watch is issued when conditions are right for sever weather to form. A Watch could be a Sever Thunderstorm Watch, or a Flash Flood Watch or a Tornado Watch. A Weather Warning is issued in our area by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, TX. A Warning is issued when Sever Weather is spotted in the area by radar or trained weather spotters. A Warning could be a Sever Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Warning, or a Flash Flood Warning.
Designated Fire Department Personnel monitor national and local weather conditions. When conditions warrant, the Fire Chief or his/her designee, will tone out the city's storm spotters and have them report to pre-determined locations around the city. The Fire Chief or his/her designee will monitor the National Weather Service, our Fire Department Spotters, and the local R.A.C.E.S. group. If conditions warrant, Ovilla's All Hazard Warning System will be activated
When Thunderstorms Approach
- If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lighting, go to a safe location immediately.
- Get out of boats and away from water.
- Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Use telephones only in an emergency.
- Do not take a bath or a shower.
- Turn off air conditioners, power surges from lightning can overload the compressors.
- Find a place away from trees, fences, and poles.
- If in the woods, take shelter under the smaller trees.
- If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, squat low to the ground or on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible, and minimize your contact with the ground.
- Get indoors immediately; go to a closet or bathroom. Stay away from windows. Do not try to out run a tornado in your car. Get out of your car and get inside.