BE WEATHER AWARE!

Have Your Plan in Place, Prepare Before “Bad” Weather Strikes Our Area

Severe weather hit the region even before spring officially arrived this year signaling the need to always be weather aware and weather prepared.

West Chester’s public safety services in Police, Fire and 911 Communications encourage residents to plan for weather that could affect lives and property.

First, how will you learn of severe weather and stay on alert when conditions are right?

Just as every home should have a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher, every home and office should be equipped with a National Weather Service (NWS) radio. A weather alert radio, along with reliable weather alert enabled apps and local weather forecasts are the most reliable source for severe weather announcements and notifications.

West Chester Township maintains outdoor weather warning sirens, but these are a notification of last resort for those who are outdoors. The sirens are NOT designed to alert residents in their home at all – but especially not when asleep in their beds.

Outdoor weather alert sirens came into existence at a time when there were few reliable sources of weather information and specifically for a more rural society. Today, more reliable sources for this information exist.

West Chester tests its sirens at noon on the first Wednesday of every month.

West Chester sounds sirens when there is a tornado warning issued by NWS or a funnel cloud is reported by a reliable community source. If you are outdoors and hear the sirens, seek cover immediately and tune into local weather forecasts.

When severe weather is reported in the area, families should move to an interior room of the lowest level of their home, preferably basement, and stay alert to conditions. Stay away from windows. If outdoors and unable to get indoors, seek cover in a ditch.

It is always a good idea to have some bottled water and food (for people and pets) in your designated area. Consider making an emergency kit for your family. Details are available at www.ready.gov.

A tornado struck parts of the West Chester community in 1974 affecting our neighbors. Emergency services train and prepare to support families in these times of crisis. While not efficient to inform residents in a timely fashion of approaching severe weather, tools like Facebook, Nextdoor.com and West Chester’s digital Community Report will be used to provide critical recovery information to the community.

Subscribe to the Community Report at www.westchesteroh.org.