The preparation for and carrying out of all emergency functions shall be accomplished through the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Activities to meet this end include coordination, planning, training, drills, exercises, and financial assistance.

Located within the Duncanville Fire Department the purpose of the Office of Emergency Management is to coordinate the activities of various agencies and city departments responsible for operations during disasters. The Office of Emergency Management is staffed by an Emergency Management Administrator. The EM Administrator position is funded by, and works for the cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, and Lancaster.

The Mayor of the City of Duncanville is the Director of Emergency Management for the city and the Fire Chief serves as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the city. Regional coordination for the Emergency Management Program is accomplished through inter-local and interjurisdictional agreements for resource utilization, communication with county, state, and federal agencies, and by establishing disaster response and recovery policy. Ultimately, the purpose of Emergency Management is to increase the City of Duncanville’s capabilities to respond to the hazards that threaten our city while implementing the steps necessary to prevent or reduce the impact of a disaster upon our community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who do I call if my power goes out?

You can call Oncor at 1-888-313-4747 or you can call your provider direct. The number is listed on your monthly billing statement. If you see downed power lines or you see fire or smell smoke dial 911 immediately.

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Q: Does the City of Duncanville have a early outdoor warning system?

A: The City of Duncanville early warning siren system consists of sixteen outdoor sirens strategically located throughout the city as a warning device to alert citizens outdoors of imminent severe weather. These sirens may be activated individually or in small groups for a localized emergency or they may all be activated simultaneously for a city-wide weather warning.

While the warning siren system is an effective method of outdoor notification, the City of Duncanville highly recommends each home and business have other means to receive warnings and notifications. Warning and notification can be received by monitoring the following:

- NOAA National Weather Service Radio
- Local television and radio stations
- Internet
- Weather subscription services
- Monitoring sky conditions

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Q: What do I do if the sirens are activated?

A: If you are outside when the sirens activate go inside and seek shelter immediately. Tune to a local, television or radio station for instructions and severe weather information. It is also recommended you purchase a weather radio to keep in your home.
Go to a pre-designated safe area or to an interior room with few or no windows. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Protect yourself by getting under a heavy table or covering yourself with some sort of thick padding. Use your arms to cover your head and neck to protect from flying and falling debris.

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Q: How often are the warning sirens tested?

A: Weather permitting the outdoor warning system is tested the first Wednesday of each month at 2:00 PM. Testing may be delayed if storms are in the area.

Q: What does Shelter-in-place mean?

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A: One of the instructions you may be given is to shelter-in-place. This precaution is aimed to keep you safe while remaining in doors during a hazardous materials release or some other chemical emergency. Shelter-in-place means selecting a small interior room with no or few windows, and taking refuge.

How to Shelter-in-Place:

- Close and lock all windows and doors
- Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning units
- Close the fireplace damper
- Get your family disaster supplies and make sure the portable radio is working
- Bring family pets inside.
- Seal all windows, doors, and air vents towels if possible and for extended periods of sheltering in place you can use plastic sheathing and duct tape to seal the structure..
- Watch television, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news and instructions as they become available.

Q: What should I have in my Emergency Supply Kit?

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A: Your emergency supply kit should be ready to use in your home but it should be situated in such a manner you can take it with you if you have to evacuate. As your prepare your kit you should also develop a plan with friends and family to include making sure all phone numbers are current, you have a meeting place, or friends and family know where you are going if ordered to evacuate. Your kit should include:


- Three days of water (one gallon per day per person) and non-perishable food items. Food and water should be changed at a minimum of every three months. Make sure you include a can opener.
- Extra keys, eyeglasses and hearing aids.
- Extra cell phone batteries and cell phone charger
- First aid kit, extra prescription medications, copies of prescriptions, or other special medical needs.
- Important documents such as insurance, proof of residence, photo ID’s, important records, inventory of your personal property and have pictures or serial numbers if possible.
- Cash (banks and ATM’s may not be available)
- Flashlights with plenty of extra batteries
- Battery operated portable radio
- Important phone numbers of family, friends, insurance company and others
- Ice chests, paper plates, and plastic utensils
- Small tool kit and booster cables
- Blankets, pillows, sleeping bag, and extra clothing
- Toilet paper, soap, clean-up supplies, and personal hygiene products
- Don’t for get the pets and the pet supplies

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Q: Does the city have an emergency calling notification system?

A: The City of Duncanville has instituted the Code Red Emergency Notification System – a high speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications. This system allows the City of Duncanville to telephone targeted areas of Duncanville in the case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action.
The system is capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour and delivers a prerecorded message from city staff to a live person or answering machine, the system will make three attempts to connect to a number.
The Code Red system will only be used for emergency purposes and incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety. Examples of situations where Code Red might be used include: Drinking water contamination, large utility outages, evacuation notices, missing person, fires and floods, bomb threats, hostage situations, and chemical spill or gas leaks.
To sign up for Code Red click this link.