Severe Weather Preparedness Week - Stay Tuned for Weather Alerts

 National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is being observed from March 3 through March 9.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local emergency management agencies are reminding everyone about the importance of planning and practicing how and where to take shelter before severe weather strikes.

Each day of National Severe Weather Preparedness Week focuses on one aspect of preparedness.  Today's theme is "Stay Tuned for Weather Alerts."  One way to stay tuned for the latest weather updates is to purchase a NOAA weather radio, which broadcasts continuous weather information from the nearest NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) office.  The advance outlooks and warnings issued by the NWS save lives.

NOAA strongly recommends that if you live in any area that experiences tornadoes or other severe weather, consider buying a weather radio that will give you all the information you need in the way that you need it.  NOAA Weather Radios can be made accessible to people who are hearing impaired by connecting them to an existing alerting system in a deaf or hard of hearing person's home.

According to NOAA, America's wireless industry is helping to build a Weather-Ready Nation by rolling out a new nationwide text emergency alert system, called Wireless Emergency Alerts, which will warn you when weather threatens.

Protect yourself and your family by taking the necessary steps to learn about severe weather before it strikes.  The City encourages residents to sign up for Nixle, a free alerting system used only to distribute emergency information via text messaging and email.  Nixle is free to use, but regular text rates may apply.  You may sign up by visiting www.nixle.com or by texting STLCEMA from your cell phone to 888777.

For more information about disaster preparedness and emergency management programs, visit the City Emergency Management page found elsewhere on this web site.

Tomorrow's theme:  Be an Example

# # #