Emergency Operations Center

Midwest City Emergency Operations Center

STORM SIRENS

The City of Midwest City maintains a multifaceted emergency warning system to distribute localized messages for the area affected, that can be immediately initiated by the EOC. As a part of that system, early warning sirens are strategically located within the City of Midwest City to provide citizens with advance warning of the possibility of impending civil or natural disaster.
Conceptually, outdoor warning sirens never have been intended for warning to residents inside buildings, simply because they are not loud enough to penetrate buildings or to awaken individuals who are sleeping. They are really only effective at warning persons outside buildings of impending danger.

The City of Midwest City has a series of 8 civil defense sirens. They are strategically located as follows:

1. 2118 Flannery Dr. Steed Elementary School
   
   
2. S.E. 15th / S. Air Depot Blvd.
   
   
3. Blueridge Dr./ N, Air Depot
   
   
4. 1600 N. Spencer Road
   
5. E. Reno/ Country Lane
   
   
6. 600 N. Post Road
   
   
7. S.E. 15th St. / S. Post Road
   
   
8. Young Avenue / S. Anderson Road

ACTIVATION OF SIRENS
The Emergency Warning Sirens will be activated under the following circumstances upon approval of the civil defense director or his designees.

1. WEATHER - Whenever a tornado warning has been issued and a tornado strike is likely within a radius of approximately a fifteen (15) miles of Midwest City, and upon approval of the Civil Defense Director for the City of Midwest City or his designee.
2. CIVIL EMERGENCY - Upon notification by the Civil Defense Director for the City of Midwest City.
3. NATIONAL EMERGENCY - Upon notification by the Civil Defense Director for the City of Midwest City or the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)

CABLE INTERRUPT SYSTEM
In addition to the storm sirens, the Midwest City EOC has a cable interrupt system in place. This is a joint project between Cox Cable and the City of Midwest City. In the event of an emergency, the EOC will interrupt the cable broadcast. It will blank out the video and you will hear a warbling tone. Following the tones, there will be verbal information or instructions given. At the conclusion of the information and /or instructions, the picture and audio will return to normal.