Okmulgee County Emergency Management (OCEM) is pleased to announce that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has officially funded the Okmulgee County Outdoor Warning Siren Project.

The award comes 26 months after the initial Notice of Intent was signed with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Despite multiple administrative transitions at both the state and federal levels, along with numerous staffing changes, OCEM received the official award letter on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The $248,000 project arrives just ahead of the region’s severe weather season and marks a historic milestone for the county. This is the first time outdoor warning sirens will be owned and operated by Okmulgee County.

The Okmulgee County Board of County Commissioners approved Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore to apply for the grant through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in October 2023. Since that time, Okmulgee County has experienced nine tornadoes along with numerous significant storm-related events, underscoring the critical need for expanded public warning infrastructure.

The project is funded through a federal share and a required local share under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The federal portion will save Okmulgee County taxpayers approximately $177,000. Okmulgee County will initially pay for the project upfront and will then be reimbursed for the federal share. This reimbursement structure ensures that county funds used for the project will be restored back into county accounts, allowing those dollars to be leveraged for future needs.

This project formally launches the Okmulgee County Outdoor Warning Siren Program. The initial phase includes six new Federal Signal Equinox outdoor warning sirens featuring advanced alerting technology. Initial siren locations include:

• Wilson Public Schools

• Preston Public Schools

• Twin Hills Public Schools Each school will have a siren installed on or adjacent to school property, providing advance warning to students, faculty and residents in unincorporated areas of the county.

The City of Morris, which has sustained significant tornado damage in recent years and was struck by an EF-3 tornado in 1984, will receive two new sirens to replace antiquated units currently in service. The sixth siren will be installed at the Okmulgee County District 1 Barn, located at 802 N. Broadway in Beggs.

In addition to the six new sirens, the City of Morris and the Town of Schulter each have one existing siren that will receive a universal controller upgrade. With these enhancements, a total of eight outdoor warning sirens will be operated and maintained by Okmulgee County Emergency Management.

The new sirens utilize state-ofthe- art technology and are capable of receiving automatic activation alerts from the National Weather Service. Director Moore emphasized the system’s built-in redundancy and resilience:

• Mounted on steel poles for durability

• Off-grid power capability

• Dual activation pathways via radio and cellular communications • Expandable architecture for future system growth As additional sirens are acquired, they will be integrated into the Okmulgee County Outdoor Warning Siren Program.

Director Moore expressed enthusiasm about bringing this modern and much-needed warning system to Okmulgee County residents. The siren project complements the county’s recently launched Genasys Protect Suite for mass notifications, providing layered communication during emergencies.

“Preparedness saves lives,” Moore stated. “Having multiple ways to receive alerts during emergencies ensures citizens can act quickly and decisively. Whether it’s through the Genasys Protect platform, NOAA Weather Radio, local media or outdoor warning sirens, every layer of notification strengthens our community’s ability to respond.”

Moore added, “The Outdoor Warning Siren Program and the Genasys Protect system together create a comprehensive, redundant alerting network for Okmulgee County. This project would not have been possible without the commitment of both previous and current members of the Okmulgee County Board of County Commissioners, whose continued investment in public safety and emergency management demonstrates their dedication to protecting our residents. By working together and prioritizing preparedness, we are building a safer and more resilient Okmulgee County.”

Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to enroll in Genasys Alert by visiting bit.ly/ okmalerts.

Click “Continue” at the bottom of the landing page and complete the registration process. Director Moore also urges everyone in Okmulgee County to download the Genasys Protect App, available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Users can save up to 10 locations within the app to receive real time alerts specific to those areas. By enabling location services while traveling, users can also receive alerts in other jurisdictions that utilize the Genasys platform.

For additional information, please contact Okmulgee County Emergency Management at 918759-9984 or em@okmulgeecounty. gov.