The Delaware County Commissioners’ Office and the County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have released a video spotlighting the different severe-weather warning tools available to residents and visitors.
“Each severe-weather season, whether it’s snow and ice or thunderstorms and tornadoes, provides challenges for people when they need to get accurate information quickly,” Communications Director Jane Hawes explained, as she and Emergency Management Director Alex McCarthy unveiled the video during Thursday’s Commissioners session. “This video tells them in less than two minutes about the information tools that are available because it is more than just outdoor warning sirens.”
The video, created in partnership with Outsider Video + Motion Graphics of Columbus, spotlights tools that range from weather radios to smartphones and outdoor warning sirens.
Weather radios, McCarthy said, “are one of your best options when you’re indoors. They are relatively inexpensive, and they grab people’s attention when warnings come from the National Weather Service.”
Indoors or out, smartphones are a great tool if they’re set up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, text messages that are sent out by emergency managers or are generated by the National Weather Service based on your phone’s geographic location.
Delco Alerts also are texts generated by the National Weather Service, but they enable anyone to enter an address into an online database maintained by the County. This is great, Hawes explained, for someone who wants to keep tabs on weather conditions impacting their child’s school, their workplace, or the home of an elderly relative.
Snow Level Alerts are texts issued by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. To sign up, just text DELCOSNOW to 888777.
Finally, McCarthy explained, there are outdoor warning sirens, which some people assume should be able to be heard indoors.
“That is a potentially dangerous misconception,” McCarthy said. “You might be able to hear one from inside your home or place of business if it’s located close enough to an outdoor siren. But these sirens are intended only to be heard by people who are outdoors and may not be able to receive an alert any other way.”
View the video online. Sign up for Delco Alerts. Access more information about severe-weather preparedness.