COMMERCE —
Editor’s note: this is part two in a three part series on the Commerce Emergency Operations Center.
Sixty-five people died last year in tornado or other severe weather-related emergencies in Texas.
The Commerce Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is able to warn citizens before an emergency occurs, keeping many citizens from becoming another statistic.
Including an outdoor warning system, the EOC has an IRIS phone notification system, cable override system and Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep citizens up to date on any emergency in Commerce and Hunt County.
But, according to Richard Hill, director of Homeland Security for Hunt County, emergency preparedness begins at home.
“Emergency management starts with the individual,” he said, adding that individuals and families should begin by asking themselves “Do we have flashlights, a radio, water, food?”
Having a family management plan and knowing what to do in the case of a weather emergency is key to keeping safe, Chris Vaughan, emergency management coordinator for Commerce, said.
Vaughan and Josh Cato, assistant emergency management coordinator, help run the IRIS alert system, which sends text or voice alerts up to three different phone numbers and two different email addresses an individual may have.
More than 3,000 people have signed up for the system so far.
“We use it for City Hall closings or, if there’s something that we need to inform everyone in Commerce about, we use that system,” he said. “We can get a message out to everyone in five minutes.”
Even with IRIS and the other alert systems the city has, Vaughan echoed Hill’s sentiment about individual preparedness.
“Always be aware of your surroundings, so that if something does happen, you have an idea of what to do,” he said.
The Red Cross and National Weather Service have family and weather related emergency plans. Vaughan said every family should read those to be prepared for an emergency.
Currently, Cato is working on a website where any citizen can update their information to ensure they will be warned by the IRIS alert system in an emergency.
To register for the IRIS alert system, visit tinyurl.com/irisinfo
Home
Hill: ‘Emergency management starts with the individual’
- Local News
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Former Commerce Mayor and Councilman John Sands makes a speech after being honored for his 16 years of service to the city during the May 21 Commerce City Council meeting.
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City councilman, attorney, finance director bid farewell to Commerce
Three long time members of Commerce government recently stepped down from their offices and were recognized during the May 21 Commerce City Council Meeting.
- Softball to be newest sports addition to A&M-Commerce
- Athletics to make big announcement today
- Lions Club helps children see the world more clearly
- Road project still on schedule
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City councilman, attorney, finance director bid farewell to Commerce
- Sports
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The Commerce Lady Tiger softball team celebrates a 6-4 victory over New Boston at the Northeast Texas Community College softball field in Mount Pleasant on May 10. The Lady Tigers will play number one ranked Pilot Point in the state semi-finals in a best two-out-of three series. Two games will be played on Friday, the first at 6 p.m. and the second at 8:30 p.m.; and a third, if needed, is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m.
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Lady Tigers softball look to topple number one ranked Pilot Point
Tomorrow the Commerce High School Lady Tigers Softball team will play Pilot Point, the number one ranked team in the state.
- Wilson wins gold, silver at state track meet
- Soccer field receives needed repair
- Commerce athletics receive boost in funding
- CISD athletics receives boost of support
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Lady Tigers softball look to topple number one ranked Pilot Point
- Obituaries
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Kelly Jones
Funeral services for Kelly Walker Jones of Sulphur Springs were conducted at 10 a.m., May 11, in the West Oaks Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Hoyt Scoggins officiating and Jay Porterfield assisting. Interment followed at Restlawn Memorial Park with Lance Looney, Grant Looney, Kyle Smith, Ryan Reed, Taylor Pace and Brad McFadden serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearer was Trey Elliott.
- Nancy Talley
- Lee Leonard
- Sarah Fletcher
- Marjorie Hendrix
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Kelly Jones
- Opinion
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AD sees bright future with support of community
It’s a great day to be a Lion!
- Busy week ends with full weekend
- Road project, Tigersharks examples of city and university working together
- Road project, Tigersharks examples of city and university working together
- Ivey walks the walk, responds to comments
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AD sees bright future with support of community
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