Alamo uses siren system to help alert residents

ALAMO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The flooding in the Texas Hill Country has many in the Rio Grande Valley wondering what emergency notification systems are in place to alert the public during a crisis.

The Valley still counts with both modern new forms of alerting and traditional forms. Alamo is one of the few cities that still uses an emergency siren system to alert the community of potential danger.

That siren is part of the city’s multi-layered approach to emergency communication, serving as a backup in case other methods fail. It is also located in the middle of the City to help alert as many people as possible. Alamo Assistant City Manager Alexandra Rangel says the city is trying to revive the project.

“Half a mile to a mile," Rangel said. "It depends on the wind speeds as well. If there are high winds, it could buffer some of that sound. Our goal down the line is to expand to the north side so when we set up those sirens, it reaches all over our city limits.”

The city is blending old-school warning systems with modern technology by reviving the siren system that was first installed decades ago. The sirens will sound in case of natural disasters, and also if cell service is down or in the event of a cyber attack, as it can be easily activated by a fire department official.

“It would be different," Rangel said. "We’ll release a real-time text about the situation, and depending on the severity, you’ll start hearing the sirens. For example, if it’s a tornado, you’ll hear it five times.”

Alamo also utilizes the “Code Red” system, which sends phone calls and text alerts to those who sign up. Cameron and Willacy County also have notification systems in place, such as Hidalgo County’s “E-Dalgo” alert system.

The counties also use the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), which is the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) national system for local alerting.

“We don’t need a hurricane to make sure that we’re prepared for any type of event," said Belinda Alvarez, who is the deputy emergency management coordinator for Hidalgo County. "Sometimes it’s just a severe weather event—whether that’s straight-line winds or inches of rain, like the March 26 flood.”

The alerts can also help locate the threat.

“Our notification system can certainly send out through IPAWS, can send out like a geo-fencing, and be able to send information to only those specific areas. It depends on what type of event we're looking at, then we can send out the notification.”

Back in Alamo, officials plan to start testing the sirens soon to make sure residents know what to listen for—and what to do.

"Once you start hearing sirens, it’s a note to evacuate the area," Rangel said. "That’s why we’re using our educational tools, like social media, to start informing the public.”

Rangel says those siren test runs will begin soon.

People can sign up for "Code Red" for the City of Alamo here, and E-Dalgo here. Alvarez also advises people to download local weather apps to be aware of any major weather changes.