Where to get and how to set up a weather radio
Severe weather is a threat here in mid-Missouri during the springtime, and having adequate ways to get information about the weather can be the difference in life or death. Cole County’s Emergency Management Office is working to provide weather radios to those who may live in areas that do not have sirens nearby so that these residents can stay weather aware.
Warning sirens are an essential tool to help spread awareness about incoming severe weather, but not everyone lives in an area where there is a siren nearby. Sierra Thomas, director of the Cole County Emergency Management office told me that over 200 residents of Cole County live in areas where warning sirens do not reach.
There are several ways to get your hands on a weather radio; from heading to your local store to keeping your ear to the ground for opportunities like Cole County Emergency Management is offering, you can pretty easily find a weather radio for your home. It’s important to have a weather radio because, like we’re seeing in Cole County, dead zones, or places outside the scope of a warning siren, exist.
Once you have your weather radio, what do you do next? It’s pretty easy to set up, and many weather radios will have a step by step walkthrough of what to do. You’ll need to find your counties’ code or else you won’t be getting the right alerts. The National Weather Service has provided a list of all the codes by county, and a link to that page will be included at the bottom of this page.
If you live in Cole County and believe that you may qualify to receive one of their weather radio donations, call the Emergency Management Office and they’ll let you know. Their listed phone number is (573) 634-9146. If you’re not in Cole County, but you’re still looking to get a weather radio, head on over to your local store or look online.
