Oklahoma preparedness partners programmed nearly 50 weather radios during the Sept. 16 event at Crossroads Mall in Oklahoma City. As part of this year's Oklahoma National Preparedness Month activities, the National Weather Service, OEM, Oklahoma City Emergency Management, and the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security hosted the event.
Weather radios provide critical warning and other information and current models allow the user to program them to receive information for only the counties they choose.
History shows Oklahoma can experience significant severe weather events outside of springtime and residents need to be ready to handle bad weather whenever and wherever it might happen. Most recently fall severe weather outbreaks occurred on Oct. 9, 2011 when a tornado hit western areas of the state, including Cordell, and Oct. 3-4, 1998 when 28 tornadoes hit central and eastern Oklahoma.
Governor Brad Henry has proclaimed September National Preparedness Month in Oklahoma. The program started in 2004 as a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies of all kinds in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. This is the third year the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security has sponsored activities in conjunction with National Preparedness Month which today boasts more than 100 coalition partners.
