While we’re all aware that severe weather, including tornadoes, can strike anytime in Oklahoma, the official storm/tornado season is fast approaching. From April to June the chances greatly increase for the warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico to mix with cool dry air from Canada and warm dry air from New Mexico – forming the perfect storm for twisters to develop.

Seminole County Emergency Manager Aaron Sowder, City of Seminole Emergency Manager Ernie Willis, and the Seminole Nation work hard year-round to continually upgrade and improve the early warning system, and they are busy preparing for this year’s storm season.

Sowder recently took time to offer an overview of how the county-wide storm siren system works, and Willis explained why the City of Seminole works independently of the Seminole County System.

Sowder states that the new, Federal Signal Commander One system, was a major investment after he first started in his new office. With this system he can activate any one siren, any combination of sirens, or all sirens at once.

Any time the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for their area, any of the sirens on the county wide system (except in Seminole City limits) that are in the warning area will sound automatically. This saves anywhere from eight to twelve minutes in getting the warning out, depending on how fast the storm is moving, since those responsible for blowing each siren don’t have to verify the warning, reach the physical location of the switch and enter the command to activate it.

All of the controls and sirens are internet connected with back up battery power (with the exception of three sirens). Five of the sirens are solar powered, which keeps the back-up batteries charged.

Sowder adds that, in case this automatic system doesn’t work, he can also activate them from his emergency management office, from his vehicle, or they can be activated by the city or fire department where they are located.

Using the map on a huge computer screen showing the location of the sirens that are scattered around Seminole County, the emergency director gives a progress report on what has been accomplished as well as short- and longterm goals for the future.

He is quick to credit the Seminole Nation for their ongoing help, including the purchase of eight new sirens to help better serve all citizens on the Seminole Reservation. This includes the recently installed sirens located in Seminole City limits on Boren Blvd. near the Seminole Nation Child Care, in Wolf, at Rivermist Casino, at Mekusukey Mission, the Trading Post in Wewoka, the Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation located on EW 119 between Hwy. 3W and Varnum School, Seminole Nation Casino at I-40 and Hwy. 377, and one in Sasakwa.

After the new siren was installed in Sasakwa, their old siren was donated to Justice School, who paid to have the old siren refurbished, installed at the school, and added to the county system.

Sowder adds that the sirens at the Housing Authority of Seminole Nation and at the casino on I-40 can also be activated by Pottawatomie County.

Wewoka has four sirens in addition to the one that was recently installed by the Seminole Nation.

The City of Konawa recently upgraded the controllers on the two sirens they have in town to connect to the county-wide system.

The City of Bowlegs maintains their own siren that is part of the system.

The City of Lima has their own siren that has been updated to work on the County system.

Seminole County has also purchased two new high-tech sirens. One has been installed east of Little and the other was installed in Cromwell. Sowder explains they communicate with his iPad, and report voltage on the backup battery and any issues they may have that might keep them from working with 100 percent efficiency. The rest of the sirens are tested manually frequently to insure they are in working condition.

Seminole County and the City of Seminole are working together for a tentative siren at Sportsman’s Lake.

Sowder adds that his shortterm goal is to purchase some additional refurbished sirens to offer even better coverage of the county. His long-term goal is to then upgrade all of the sirens to the newer, hightech models. These sirens currently cost approximately $25,000, and he has set up a fund for anyone that would like to donate.

City of Seminole Emergency Manager Ernie Willis says the City of Seminole has a slightly different policy. Willis controls the siren system in city limits and the siren at Mekusukey Mission.

He begins by explaining Seminole is a shelter-in-place community. Unless they live in a mobile home, citizens are probably safer finding a safe spot in their home than they are out on the street in their vehicle.

Because Seminole County is so far away, the national radar can’t pick up weather activity below 3,000 feet due to the curve of the earth. A lot can happen under the radar, so the weather service may issue a warning covering a broad area, erring on the side of caution when they are uncertain.

Willis explains that there are a number of entities in town, such as nursing homes, that are required to react when the sirens are blown, so unless it is too dark or rainy, he prefers to wait until his team of storm trackers spots rotation before he activates the municipal sirens.

“When we do sound the sirens, there’s a tornado,” Willis stresses. “Don’t waste any time getting in place.”

Willis strongly encourages everyone to sign up for the free Seminole Tornado Warnings service by texting “join seminole” to 30890. This will get you on the mass notification warning list that the City issues as a heads-up to be listening for local data and stay informed of any approaching twisters. He suggests everyone have a weather radio just for these occasions.

Willis adds that everyone, in and out of town, should have a predetermined tornado plan of action figured out in advance so they know exactly what they are going to do should a tornado ever approaches. This will prevent making bad decisions under stress if caught off guard by an approaching twister.

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