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Weather warnings go high-tech
BY JANE PRENDERGAST | ENQUIRER STAFF
WRITER
As tornado season arrives, there are more
ways than ever to make sure you know when the weather becomes severe.
The traditional outdoor sirens and weather radios remain good standbys.
But now, officials are urging anyone with a cell phone, pager or e-mail to
sign up for higher-tech warnings.
"We have to constantly hone and continue to look for ways to be
better prepared," said Beth Nevel, director of Clermont County's Local
Emergency Planning Committee.
"You can be driving, you can be at home,
you can be on the soccer field and still know what's going on."
Peak tornado season starts now - thunderstorms are in the forecast for
Friday - and lasts until July. Emergency management officials want you to
be prepared.
For example, if you have a Cincinnati Bell cell phone, it's easy to get
weather information, says spokeswoman Jill Cobb. Send a text message with a
W plus any ZIP code to GOCBW.
Some communities, including Fairfield, Montgomery, Loveland, Anderson
Township and Indian Hill, can call your house to inform you about severe
weather. CodeRed systems, which have caught on here recently, can dial
1,000 houses a minute with tailored emergency messages.
Nevel still recommends buying a weather-alert radio - they cost as
little as $19.97, depending on features - for the most direct information
from the National Weather Service.
It's still important to heed the outdoor sirens when you hear them,
Nevel said.
All 12 counties in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have
coordinated their siren testing schedule. All will sound for five minutes
on the first Wednesday of every month.
E-mail jprendergast@enquirer.com
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