This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Alabama; a time when every Alabamian is encouraged to spend some time getting ready for the spring tornado season, which seems to be getting off to an early start this year. If you take the time to read the blog, you probably know all of the standard safety points. But, I am really hitting these hard this year:
*FORGET THE SIRENS: Outdoor warning sirens do serve a purpose, but that purpose is not to warn people inside their home that a tornado warning has been issued. This “siren mentality†has gotten people killed in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Every Alabama home must have a NOAA Weather Radio receiver. To make this happen more easily, ABC 33/40 had teamed up with Midland Radio; we are offering their top of the line Weather Radio now at all Publix and Handy TV locations in the Birmingham TV market for only $29.95. This is a great bargain, and a great time to get assurance that you won’t miss a tornado warning in your home or business. With this receiver, you can choose the counties for which the alarm sounds. When that thing goes off for a tornado warning, then turn on your TV to ABC 33/40.
We continue to be the only station in the market that promises to go “wall to wall†with severe weather coverage anytime a county in our market is under a tornado warning. Our dominant ratings during severe weather coverage reflect this commitment, and we continue to take the position of being the market leader very seriously.
*MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS MUST HAVE A PLACE TO GO: Most people (but not all!) who die in tornadoes in Alabama are in vehicles and mobile homes. A majority of Alabama citizens away from urban areas live in manufactured housing, and you must have a viable action plan at any hour of the day, any day of the week. Getting the warning is one thing, but knowing where you are going is another. Now is the time to come up with a plan for your family if you live in a mobile home.
Preparedness, warning, and response are the three keys to saving lives during the next tornado outbreak in Alabama. Lets all work together to make this spring season a safe one.
