A community emergency preparedness is only as good as the preparedness of its citizens.  Make emergency preparedness a priority for you and your family.  There are a number of simple actions that you and your family can take to better prepare for a potential emergency.

OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEM

Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management currently operates over 90 outdoor warning sirens that are designed to alert people who are outdoors of a potential emergency in the community.  Outdoor Warning Sirens are NOT designed to be heard indoors.  In the event of an emergency, the Office of Emergency Management will activate the Outdoor Warning Sirens on a steady tone for 3 minutes.  When sounded, you should immediately move to shelter and listen to local radio or television stations for emergency warning information.

The outdoor warning system is tested the last Friday of every month at 11:30 AM, weather permitting.

INDOOR WARNING SYSTEM

A key to saving lives is the ability to provide adequate and timely warning. Individuals need to insure they have the means to receive emergency warnings, know what to do for protective measures and respond accordingly. Emergency Management Officials in Amarillo/Potter/Randall have several different means of public warning at their disposal and will activate applicable warning systems when necessary. Since the best source of emergency information is local radio and television stations, you should turn on battery powered radios or televisions when warning systems are activated.

NOAA All-Hazards Radio

The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All-Hazards Radio broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts, and other emergency information for ALL hazards and disasters that require immediate notification.  The radio operates on 162.550 MHz and is re-broadcasted in the local Amarillo area on 1610 AM.

More information on All-Hazard Radios can be found here.  Once you purchase your radio, program in the SAME code for the counties you would like to receive emergency information. Below are the SAME Codes for our two counties:

• Potter County: 048375

• Randall County: 048381

• Pantex EPZ Code: 048901

NOAA All-Hazards Radio for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/special_needs.html

Emergency Alert System (EAS)

EAS sends out alerts to broadcast media, cable television, radio stations, satellites, pagers, Direct Broadcast Satellite, High Definition Television, Video Dial Tone, and to devices for the needs of special populations such as the deaf and those with special language requirements.  The EAS will be activated when immediate public notification is needed due to threatening weather, technological or radiation  emergencies, chemical spills, explosions, fires, or any other disaster.

Cable Television Cut-In

When necessary, the Office of Emergency Management can interrupt programming on most channels of the cable network in order to provide viewers information about an emergency event.

www.PantexEPZ.com

Pantex – General Emergency Information

The Pantex Plant is a U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons facility. Because of the unique operations at the plant, the potential exists for an emergency involving radiological and/or chemical hazards.

If you live or work within the 10-mile Pantex Emergency Planning Zone (see the map below), local officials will use the Emergency Alerting System (EAS), NOAA All-Hazards radios, and outdoor warning sirens to inform you of many types of emergencies, including problems at the Pantex Plant that may affect you. Problems at Pantex are unlikely, but you should be prepared to follow instructions and take protective actions that may include sheltering-in-place or evacuating.

If you are advised to shelter-in-place:

• Stay inside.

• Close all doors and windows.

• Turn off all heating and air conditioning units.

• Turn off all outside exhaust fans or units.

• Cover mouth and nose with damp cloth.

• Listen to radio or television for additional instructions and updated evacuation notices.

If you are advised to evacuate (see evacuation routes below):

• Go directly to the Reception Center located at the Tri-State Fairgrounds at Grand Avenue and East 3rd Avenue in Amarillo.

• Take any medications, baby items, and important documents that you may need with you.

• Do not eat, drink, or smoke until advised that it is safe to do so.

Shelter-In-Place Instructions

• Get indoors quickly.

• Shut all doors and windows.  Turn off the air conditioning.

• Stay away from external windows and go to an interior room, taking a radio or TV, phone, wet cloth or towel, plastic sheets, and duct tape.

• Seal the air vents and all openings around all doors and windows.

• If you happen to smell the chemical or have trouble breathing – breathe through the wet towel or for higher protection go to a bathroom and turn on the shower in a strong spray.

• Wait for the all clear signal before you leave your shelter.