By Fox23.com News Staff
OKMULGEE COUNTY, Okla. — Okmulgee County Emergency Management (OCEM) has announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has funded the Okmulgee County Outdoor Warning Siren Project.
OCEM received the award letter from FEMA February 10.
The $248,000 project arrives just before the region’ severe weather season.
The Okmulgee County Board of County Commissioners approved OCEM Director Jeffrey Moore, to apply for the grant through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in October 2023. Since then, Okmulgee County has experienced nine tornadoes with several other storm-related events.
The federal portion of the project is said to save Okmulgee County taxpayers $177,000. The County will pay for the project upfront and will then be reimbursed fort the federal share.
The initial phase of the Outdoor Warning Siren Project will include six new Federal Signal Equinox outdoor warning sirens. The starting siren locations will include:
- Wilson Public Schools
- Preston Public Schools
- Twin Hills Public Schools
The schools will have a siren installed on or next to the school property.
The City of Morris will receive two new sirens to replace units currently in service.
The sixth siren will be installed at the Okmulgee County District 1 Barn, located at 802 N. Broadway in Beggs.
Morris as well as the City of Schulter will also have a siren receive a universal controller upgrade. With the enhancements, eight outdoor warning sirens will be operation and maintained by OCEM.
The new sirens are able to receive automatic activation alerts from the National Weather Service. As more sirens are acquired, they will be integrated into the Outdoor Warning Siren Program.
“Preparedness saves lives,” Moore stated. “Having multiple ways to receive alerts during emergencies ensures citizens can act quickly and decisively. Whether it’s through the Genasys Protect platform, NOAA Weather Radio, local media, or outdoor warning sirens, every layer of notification strengthens our community’s ability to respond. The Outdoor Warning Siren Program and the Genasys Protect system together create a comprehensive, redundant alerting network for Okmulgee County. This project would not have been possible without the commitment of both previous and current members of the Okmulgee County Board of County Commissioners, whose continued investment in public safety and emergency management demonstrates their dedication to protecting our residents. By working together and prioritizing preparedness, we are building a safer and more resilient Okmulgee County.”
