diff --git a/alert_api/alarm_siren.py b/alert_api/alarm_siren.py
index 5c5ee8f..5dd6dcd 100644
--- a/alert_api/alarm_siren.py
+++ b/alert_api/alarm_siren.py
@@ -152,6 +152,11 @@ class AlarmSiren:
                 # Check for alarms to trigger
                 now = datetime.now()
                 for alarm_id, alarm_info in list(self.active_alarms.items()):
+                    # Check if alarm is more than 1 hour late
+                    if now > alarm_info['trigger_time'] + timedelta(hours=1):
+                        logger.warning(f"Alarm {alarm_id} is over 1 hour late. Disabling.")
+                        del self.active_alarms[alarm_id]
+                        continue
                     if now >= alarm_info['trigger_time']:
                         # Trigger alarm if not already active
                         if alarm_info['process'] is None:
@@ -179,7 +184,14 @@ class AlarmSiren:
                                 logger.info(f"Removing non-repeating alarm {alarm_id}.")
                                 del self.active_alarms[alarm_id]
 
-                time.sleep(1)  # Prevent tight loop
+                    # Actively clean up zombie processes
+                    for alarm_id, alarm_info in list(self.active_alarms.items()):
+                        process = alarm_info.get('process')
+                        if process and process.poll() is not None:
+                            # Remove terminated processes
+                            alarm_info['process'] = None
+
+                time.sleep(0.5)  # Prevent tight loop
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error(f"Error in playback worker: {e}")
                 time.sleep(1)
@@ -230,13 +242,19 @@ def dismiss_alarm(self, alarm_id: int):
         logger.warning(f"Cannot dismiss alarm {alarm_id} - not found in active alarms")
         return False
 
-    # Stop playback
+    # Stop playback and terminate any running process
     alarm_info = self.active_alarms.pop(alarm_id, None)
-    process = alarm_info.get('process')
-    if process:
-        process.terminate()
-        process.wait()
+    if alarm_info and alarm_info.get('process'):
+        try:
+            alarm_info['process'].terminate()
+            alarm_info['process'].wait(timeout=2)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error terminating alarm process: {e}")
+            # Force kill if terminate fails
+            try:
+                alarm_info['process'].kill()
+            except Exception:
+                pass
 
     logger.info(f"Dismissed alarm {alarm_id}.")
     return True
-
diff --git a/alert_api/main.py b/alert_api/main.py
index 334def3..5c193f5 100755
--- a/alert_api/main.py
+++ b/alert_api/main.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import threading
 import logging
 from http.server import HTTPServer
 from multiprocessing import Queue
+import subprocess
 
 # Import our custom modules
 from alarm_api import AlertApi, run as run_api
@@ -153,6 +154,12 @@ class AlarmSystemManager:
         if self.api_thread and self.api_thread.is_alive():
             self.api_thread.join(timeout=2)
 
+        # Kill any remaining mpg123 processes
+        try:
+            subprocess.run(['pkill', 'mpg123'], check=False)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error killing mpg123 processes: {e}")
+
         logger.info("Alarm System shutdown complete")
 
 def main():
diff --git a/alert_api/ncurses_ui_draw.py b/alert_api/ncurses_ui_draw.py
index e8f6cbb..0e6b2e5 100644
--- a/alert_api/ncurses_ui_draw.py
+++ b/alert_api/ncurses_ui_draw.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ def _draw_error(stdscr, error_message):
 
 def _draw_active_alarms(stdscr, context):
     """Draw the active alarms screen"""
+    _init_colors()
     height, width = stdscr.getmaxyx()
 
     active_alarms = context.get('active_alarms', {})