MADISON, Wis. — When severe weather is on the horizon, your safety may depend on receiving information about threatening conditions as quickly as possible. Having an emergency weather radio in your home or office could save your life.
May 2 is NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Awareness Day in Wisconsin. The campaign encourages people to own a NOAA Weather Radio, which provides a 24-hour source of weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and non-weather emergency information from the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“The early warning of possible danger gives you and your family time to act and stay safe,” said Brian Satula, Wisconsin Emergency Management administrator. “Listen, Act and Live! Listen to the weather radio warnings and take action immediately. You’ll have a much better chance of surviving the disaster.”
A NOAA Weather Radio can help protect your family, especially during the night when the alarm feature can wake you if severe weather is approaching. Those early warnings can give you time to seek the appropriate shelter. The radios can also be set to a silent, stand-by mode if there is no current severe weather or emergency situation.
Weather radios come in many sizes, may come with a variety of functions, and are typically battery-operated portables or AC-powered desktop models with battery backup. They can be purchased at most electronic and home improvement stores. Portable weather radios are also an important item to take along when you are enjoying the outdoors. Many receivers can also be programmed to trigger an alarm only for hazardous conditions that affect the owner’s county.
For additional information about weather radios, including real life stories of Wisconsin residents who survived a tornado because of an early warning, go to https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/tornado/survivors.asp.
ReadyWisconsin is a campaign from Wisconsin Emergency Management with a mission to prepare individuals, families and businesses for emergencies and disasters. For additional safety tips, visit https://ReadyWisconsin.wi.govor follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ReadyWisconsin), Twitter (www.twitter.com/ReadyWisconsin) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/ReadyWisconsin).
