NOAA Weather Radios Proved Valuable In Recent Disaster
Release Date: March 5, 2008
Release Number: 1746-010
» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Shortly after midnight, Hardin County Commissioner Bill Brandenburg and his family were awakened by their National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio warning them that a storm was only miles, in fact minutes, away from their home.
"I am an advocate of the weather radios. I have purchased them for myself and my children and have even told my associates about the radios," said Brandenburg. "We were able to go get our "Ready Kit" and go down in our basement after the NOAA radio warned us of the recent February storm."
Brandenburg purchased a radio for his home as a result of a presentation given to Hardin County Fiscal Court on NOAA weather radios. David Underwood, administrator of Emergency Services for Hardin County, gave the presentation and showed examples of different radios that could be purchased during the lecture.
Hardin County has been approved to be a "Storm-Ready Community." In 2006, the county received a hazard mitigation grant to purchase NOAA weather radios because of high winds and tornado risk in the area.
A "Storm-Ready Community" means that the county has disaster plans in place and has properly equipped its facilities, e.g. the weather radios. It also means that the residents have been well educated on what to do in the wake of a storm.
"I purchased 61 NOAA weather radios after the Emergency Management Service received the mitigation grant, and placed them in government buildings and schools," said Underwood.
Underwood said law enforcement, 911 dispatch centers and fire departments were some of the places given radios. Each of these agencies received advance storm warnings because of the NOAA radios during the recent February storms. Other government buildings and schools were not in operation when the storm hit.
"The 911 center's system went down on the night of the storm," Underwood said. "Electricity went out and they were having trouble getting information out, but agencies that had the NOAA weather radios were able to get the information because the radios worked automatically on AC/DC batteries when the power failed."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds the mitigation grants, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) administers the grants and the local government manages the grants.
Hardin County's mitigation efforts were the result of a previous disaster, and proved successful in the wake of recent tornadoes and other severe weather that impacted the county at midnight on Feb. 5.
Hardin County and surrounding areas received the warning because of the radios, and Underwood said they were very appreciative. He also said it was a great opportunity for the county to receive the grant in the amount of $1,933.
Hardin County has a population of more than 94,000, and is named after John Hardin, a Continental Army officer during the American Revolution. The county's forward thinking in becoming a "Storm Ready Community" proved vital to the community.
"We at the State Hazard Mitigation Office firmly believe that NOAA weather radios are the number one way to warn indoor populations of impending severe weather," KYEM Hazard Mitigation Officer Camille Crain, said. "Having a NOAA weather radio should be a part of everyone's plan on how to prepare for disasters in the commonwealth of Kentucky. Being informed is a critical key."
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 05-Mar-2008 14:47:17