Dallas County EMA announces two new sirens, weather radio giveaway

Dallas County Emergency Management Agency is replacing two old weather sirens and handing out 40 weather radios.  

Two outdated tornado sirens located at Selma High School on Broad Street and the Sportsplex on Landline Road will be replaced through a FEMA grant tied to Hurricane Zeta recovery, according to EMA Director Toya Stiles-Crusoe. The FEMA funding covers 90% of the cost, with Dallas County responsible for the remaining 10%. 

“We submitted this project to FEMA to replace two existing sirens that reached their useful life,” Stiles-Crusoe said. “I received the confirmation email from FEMA Friday, Oct. 10, so we can now start the bidding process to get the work underway.” 

However, the timeline depends on the federal government’s operational status. “Due to the government shutdown, we have to wait until the government’s back open and the funding is available,” she explained. “But hopefully within a year or so we should have those sirens up and running.” 

The request for funding was originally submitted in 2020 or 2021, according to Stiles-Crusoe, but the process was delayed by requests for additional documentation.  

In a separate initiative to boost emergency preparedness, the EMA will host a weather radio giveaway on Oct. 22. The event will take place in two sessions in the Commission Chambers located in the Courthouse Annex. The first will be at 10 a.m. and the second at 1 p.m. Twenty pre-programmed NOAA weather radios will be distributed at each. 

The giveaway targets senior citizens aged 62 and older, though Stiles-Crusoe noted that past distributions have also included younger individuals with disabilities. “The presentation will help citizens learn the importance of being prepared and having a communication plan in place for the next disaster,” she said. 

Both efforts reflect the county’s ongoing commitment to improving emergency readiness and ensuring vulnerable residents are equipped to respond to severe weather.