Eastland City Hall
113 E Commerce St Eastland, TX 76448
HOURS
8:00AM - 5:00PM
(254)
629-3349
City
of Eastland Commissioners normally meets the 3rd Monday
at 6:00 PM
City of Eastland Youth Sports
Advisory Board normally meets the 2nd Tuesday
Eastland Historic Preservation Board normally meets the 3rd
Wednesday at Noon
City Siren System
The
City of Eastland installed a new siren system in 2006 and upgraded it in
2007. This system consists of five sirens located strategically within
the City limits. Each siren covers approximately a 1.12-mile radius.
The sirens are uni-directional and rotating for maximum coverage. Within
these areas, readings of 70 decibels or more are likely at locations
out-of-doors.
If there is a power outage, each siren will operate off of a battery
system that can last for an extended period of time without electricity,
and then will be recharged once electricity has been restored.
The sirens are activated by a radio signal sent from the encoder located
in the Eastland Fire Department. The software used, continuously
monitors the system, and reports back to the Fire Department if there is
any problem with any of the sirens. If there is a problem with the
system at the Fire Department and they are unable to activate the
sirens, there is a backup system that can be used to activate the system
at Eastland Police Department.
What warning tones
are used by the Siren System?
There are three distinct tones used to warn of life-threatening
emergencies:
For weather related emergencies,
such as tornado, straight-line wind greater than 60 miles per hour,
or hail larger than golf-ball size, the sirens will sound the
ALERT TONE. Click to hear this tone.
For hazardous materials incidents,
such as train derailment, tanker truck collision, or any incident
involving possible evacuation of an area due to chemical hazard, the
sirens will sound the
DISCONTINUOUS AIR HORN TONE. Click to hear this tone.
For imminent flash flood, when
low-lying areas should be evacuated immediately, the sirens will
sound the HI-LO TONE. Click to hear this tone.
For Lightning Warning, when athletic playing fields should be evacuated immediately,
the siren closest to the field will sound the
WHOOP TONE. Click to hear this tone.
What do I do if
the Sirens are activated?
In the event that the Warning Sirens are activated,
SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY, then listen to the radio or TV to get
details on the changing weather conditions. In the event of an actual
warning the sirens will be sounded for a minimum of three minutes. The
warning sirens may be sounded several times if the threat is continuing.
This increases the chances that people will hear it, even indoors.
Who can hear the
Sirens?
The City operates five Outdoor Warning Sirens designed to give warning
to persons outside. This is because people outdoors may not have the
same access to warning and information that those inside do. People who
are outside need time to reach shelter.
Can Sirens be
heard inside?
Sirens can penetrate buildings close to the siren units, but this is not
the goal. Do not rely on indoor warning from siren systems. Newer
structures are insulated better and more likely to keep sound out. The
sirens cannot be made louder to penetrate buildings because doing so
would pose a danger to the hearing of people who are outdoors.
Is there an all
clear sounded by the Siren System?
There is no all clear sounded by the Outdoor Warning Siren System.
Listen to the radio or TV for an all clear to be given, or if you are
unable to listen due to a power outage, the warning usually expires one
hour after the last siren has sounded.
Does the City test
their Sirens?
Yes, the sirens are tested on the first Saturday of each month at noon.
The test lasts for about 30 seconds. A silent test is performed weekly
to make certain all the systems are operational.
The purpose of the testing is to assure that the emergency siren system
is functioning properly in preparation for weather-related emergencies
and other public safety concerns.
What else can I do
for my family’s safety?
You can purchase a NOAA All-hazards radio that will alert you to weather
watches and warnings that are specific to Eastland County. These radios,
operated on AC current and/or batteries, are inexpensive, and can
provide timely warnings of hazardous weather conditions, as well as
AMBER alerts and other hazard warnings. They differ from police scanners
in that they remain silent until the National Weather Service sends a
tone to activate the radio prior to issuing a warning.
What other warning
systems are available to the residents of Eastland?
In
addition to the siren system, the City of Eastland can activate the
CodeRED telephone system, which is capable of dialing 2000 telephones
within two minutes. CodeRED is an address-based database that can
deliver pre-recorded warning messages to residents very quickly.
The City also has the capability of interrupting cable TV programming to
deliver emergency warning messages. These two systems, along with the
Emergency Alert System (EAS), supplement the outdoor warning siren
system and provide warning to residents who are already indoors when the
emergency arises.
Where can I find
more information about CodeRED?
Information on CodeRED can be found by clicking
HERE.
How can I be sure
that my telephone number is in the CodeRED database?
If you have had the same telephone number for the past five years, and
your number is listed in the directory, you are most likely already in
the database. If you have a new phone, or a cell phone, or an unlisted
phone number, you can click on the logo and it will take you to a
website where you may enter your information. Only residents of Eastland
will be accepted for inclusion in the database.
