Emergency Management Ensures Safety
The mission of Emergency Management is to ensure the safety of
the citizens of Ponca City by providing timely warning, life-saving information
and educational resources in regard to all dangerous situations that may occur
in or around Ponca City.
In 2001, Emergency Management obtained national certification for Ponca City as
a National Weather Service Storm Ready Community.
Emergency Management, under the direction of Paula Cain, operates and maintains
a warning system for the Ponca City area.
The Ponca City Emergency Management operates and maintains a warning system for
the Ponca City area. Radio controlled outdoor warning sirens are tested every
Thursday, weather permitting. If the sirens are sounded, citizens should turn
their radios or TV to a local station for information and instructions.
In the event of a tornado or other hazardous situations, the sirens will emit
three to five-minute blasts. The outdoor warning sirens will be activated when a
tornado, funnel cloud or wall cloud has been sighted and is approaching Ponca
City.
Emergency Management is operated out of the Public Safety Center at 200 East
Oklahoma Avenue. Call 767-0380 for information.
Warning Sources
The NEXRAD system is utilized by "spotters" to track severe weather formation and movement.
Emergency Management informs the local media of emergency related information,
such as severe weather, evacuation, and sheltering in place, that needs to be
broadcast to the public.
The Kay County Radio club and the Ponca City Emergency Management Office
maintain the NOAA Weather Radio station. Information and warnings originate from
the National Weather Service office in Norman. They are transmitted to the
station over phone lines. The information is then transmitted to anyone with an
alert radio receiver in the Kay County area. The receiver will automatically
turn on for weather warnings to be received by citizens. Many of these receivers
are located in schools, businesses and homes in the Ponca City area.
Emergency Management maintains a "pyramid" type phone list that can be
used to notify businesses, day care facilities and other persons requesting this
service.
Emergency Management can use the audio override to interrupt the cable service
in Ponca City and broadcast emergency information to the citizens.
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IMPORTANT
INFORMATION |
| Ponca City maintains a system of outdoor warning sirens. In
the event of a tornado, the sirens will emit 3 to 5 minute blast. This is your
signal to turn on the radio for information and instructions, then put
your own emergency plan into action. Although these sirens are commonly
known as "tornado sirens" it is important to remember that they
are general warning sirens and may be used to alert the public of a number
of different hazardous situations. The outdoor warning sirens will be activated
when a tornado, funnel cloud or wall cloud has been sighted and is approaching
Ponca City. Do not try to drive to a storm shelter after this warning has
been issued, if the storm is too close for you to risk reaching shelter
safely. |
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NOTE:
This site is provided by the Ponca City Publishing