Emergency management is in the process of revamping its outdoor warning system with 23 new sirens.

The city of Durant has purchased 17 new storm sirens for the city limits, with an additional six sirens received with the help of grants, four of which are for outside the city limits.

Four of the 19 sirens for the city limits are iFORCE sirens, which have live or pre-recorded audio broadcasting ability.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University has received two of the iFORCE sirens with a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Allowing them to not only use the sirens for storm warnings but for other types of warnings if necessary. The Bryan County Fairgrounds and Durant Multi-Sports Complex will each also have an iForce siren, which were purchased by the city.

The iForce sirens have an audible range of approximately half of a mile and can be activated locally or from a central point using radio or a land line.

The other 19 are Tempest T-128 sirens, which have an audible range of approximately a mile and a quarter. Caddo, Mead, Bokchito, and Colbert will each receive a T-128 siren with the help of a Rural Economic Action Program (REAP) grant. The remaining 15 T-128’s will be placed in the Durant city limits.

The good thing about the new sirens is that the system will still activate with the loss of electricity said James Dalton, Durant/Bryan County Emergency Management Director.

Dalton is thankful that the Durant City Council and City Manager James Dunegan have put a high priority on safety and allowed emergency management to invest in the new system.

The upgrade is part of the Durant/Bryan County Emergency Management’s All Hazards Notification Matrix, which focuses on getting warning notifications out in many different ways.

New warning options such as digital message boards, Facebook, Twitter, and new reverse 911 notifications are being looked at.

“The more avenues of warnings we can get out there, the better off we will be,” Dalton said.

Dalton expects to have the new sirens installed and operational by the first of December.