Tuesday, March 19, 2024

We’re Prepared: Emergency Management in Southlake

We can’t always predict when disaster will strike, but we’re prepared if it does.

Planning

From severe weather to man-made hazards, the City of Southlake has multiple plans in place that address procedures before, during and after disaster or large-scale emergency events. The Office of Emergency Management guides City departments through planning processes so that we have plans that use an all-hazards approach, easily molded to fit most situations.

  • Our Emergency Operations Plan is validated by the State and is reviewed every five years.
  • Each City department has a Continuity of Operations Plan, which allows them to continue essential functions no mater what the situation.
  • Each facility has an Emergency Action Plan, that allows staff to respond to many common emergencies and facilitates evacuation and shelter in place situations.
  • Every large City event in Town Square requires an event action plan that provides response to the increased number of people within the area.
  • We have a certified disaster debris plan that allows us to plan accordingly for large debris generating events such as flooding and tornadoes.

Notification

The City of Southlake operates six outdoor warning sirens that sound during severe weather or life threating events. The sirens are placed strategically throughout the City and are designed to warn people who are in common outdoor areas such as parks and shopping centers to go inside and seek more information.

The City also communicates emergency information with citizens and businesses registered for Alert Southlake. This system allows us to send rapid notifications via phone call, text or email. These notifications can range from severe weather notifications, road closures, to other emergencies such as closures and boil water notices.

Response

When a disaster strikes, the City operates and Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC, under guidance of the emergency manager and city manager, brings together highly trained City staff and state-of-the-art technology to coordinate resources, information and crisis and emergency risk communication to strengthen our City’s ability to detect and respond to threats.

The City also participates in associations such as Northeast Fire Department Association (NEFDA) and Public Works Emergency Response Team (PWERT) that allows us additional resources and manpower during emergency events. These affiliations allow us to respond and recover much faster, becoming a more resilient community.

Learn how the City has planned for various emergency situations by visiting the Southlake Office of Emergency Management’s home page or if you have a question, contact Emergency Manager Amanda Meneses at ameneses@ci.southlake.tx.us.

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