If you are outside in the City of Plano, the Outdoor Warning system will alert you of when to seek cover from an impending emergency situation. However, if you are indoors you may not hear the siren, even if it is nearby. This can be because of building structure design, insulation, wind, other interior and exterior noise, or if you are sleeping. To stay safe, the City of Plano encourages everyone to have a Personal Indoor Warning System to ensure redundancy of alert systems for your safety. There are many different types of technologies available from weather radios, email alerts, and text messaging. Below are a few of the ways you can have a Personal Indoor Warning System. You may want to utilize all of them, or you may need a specific technology for a special need. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security on the wide array of ways you can stay Prepared in Plano.

Warning System Recommendations
The warning system can only be effective if you understand the benefits and limitations of the alerting methods available. There are a great deal of warning devices and methods available to you. We recommend that you take advantage of as many of them as possible. 

By relying on one single method, such as the sounding of the sirens or the receiving information solely from broadcast meteorologists, you risk missing a warning if that system fails.

By taking a systematic approach and getting information from more than one source, you are much more likely to receive the warning, even if there is a failure in one of the components.

We strongly recommend that you consider the following:  

• Purchase a personal indoor notification system if you don't already have one.
  
  
• Subscribe to a wireless email alerting system if you carry an alphanumeric pager, digital cellular phone or personal digital assistant.
  
  
• Rely on the sirens only for outdoor warning.
  
  
• Turn to broadcast radio or television for details and follow-up information.

NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA Weather Radio is a service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The broadcasts originate from local National Weather Service (NWS) offices and broadcast continuous weather information 24 hours a day. (click here for a nationwide NWR listing). In addition, other natural disasters and national emergencies are broadcast when appropriate.

At the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth the information broadcast is tailored to the weather needs of the people of North Central Texas. Routine programming includes a short term weather forecast, a 7-day forecast for the listening area, and hourly weather information. In times of hazardous weather, special products - such as watches, warnings, special weather statements and outlooks - will be broadcast.

One of the unique features of NOAA Weather Radio is the ability to receive instantaneous information on severe weather, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods. Many weather radio receivers are equipped with a tone alert feature. These receivers will either sound an alarm, or if operated in muted mode, will be automatically turn on so that the warning message will be heard. These tone alerts are activated by the National Weather Service office where all severe weather warnings originate.

For a map of the NOAA Weather Radio coverage in North texas, click here.

Emergency Alert System
The Emergency Alert System is composed of AM, FM, and television broadcast stations as well as cable television, operating in cooperation with local authorities to provide uniform and consistent information in an emergency. Participation in the local Emergency Alert System is voluntary. In this area WBAP Radio, 820 AM, is the designated Emergency Alert System (EAS) station. Most other radio and television stations will also broadcast information regarding emergencies. Those with cable TV may turn to Plano Television Network, Channel 16 on Time Warner Cable and Channel 30 & 31 on Verizon FIOS for official information from the Plano Warning Center. 

Other local broadcasters can pick up the message from any of these sources and rebroadcast it at their discretion. You can recognize an EAS message from the distinctive tone that begins each broadcast. The announcer will also identify the broadcast as an activation of the Emergency Alert System.

In an emergency, you should stay tuned to participating EAS stations to receive emergency warnings and situation updates. In addition, commercial receivers are available to receive EAS warnings directly. The complexity of these devices varies, with some being simple monitors of one EAS source to other units that can be set to monitor multiple sources. A number of EAS monitors are designed to be connected to external alerting devices, electronic message boards, and building public address systems. Most EAS monitors are relatively expensive and are designed for commercial use.

Internet
The Internet offers a nearly inexhaustible source of information concerning storm warnings and severe weather forecasting. Please be aware that Internet sources of warning are not as dependable as the other systems referenced in this document. Information received from sources on the internet is subject to delays and may not arrive soon enough to provide an adequate warning. In addition, your ability to receive information through the Internet requires the operation of numerous systems, some of which are completely beyond our control. The Internet should be considered as an additional source of information and should not be used solely as the primary source of emergency warning for life-threatening events.

The private marketplace offers a wide variety of warning services, primarily weather-related on a fee-for-service basis. On request, we can assist you with locating providers of these services.

Home | Staff and Functions | Hazards | Warnings and Notifications 
Community Emergency Response Team  | Boy Scout Section | KidsZone
News and Events | Frequently Asked Questions | Important Links | Multimedia
Contact Us