SPECIAL REPORT: Tornadoes Be Warned - Part 2

By Andrew Sweeney (aesweeney@wsbt.com)

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<i>(AP Photo/JIM BECKEL)</i><br><b>Clouds roll over Oklahoma City, Okla., Tuesday as storms raked the state. At least eight people have died as tornadoes struck communities in Texas and Oklahoma. Today's weather in Michiana isn't expected to be as severe,

(AP Photo/JIM BECKEL)
Clouds rolled over Oklahoma City, Okla., as storms raked the state in February 2009.

By WSBT Weather

Story Created: May 19, 2009 at 11:18 AM EST

Story Updated: May 22, 2009 at 11:08 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — Tornado sirens are one line of defense against tornadoes but they are not the best. There are several different ways you can get the severe weather information you need when you need it. How you get this information and how your kids at school get this information is important when a warning is issued.

Your weather radio, your TV, your cell phone, and your computer — that's how you get the weather information you need to stay safe.

“Weather sirens are wonderful if you are outdoors; if you are indoors remember you can't hear these things,” said Paul Young, the LaPorte County Emergency Management Director.

They are only designed for people who are outdoors.

What if you are at home, sleeping, at work or your kids are at school? You have options. Weather radios are a great way to stay informed. The large school districts that we spoke with have weather radios to alert school administrators of severe weather. Some school districts like PHM took part in a national program that gave NOAA Public Alert Radios to schools.

“We will monitor those radios. They're on in each of the offices within the schools, whether it be an elementary, middle or high school,” said Mike Seger, Director of Safety and Student Services for the PHM School District.

Schools take action when skies become threatening.

"If a weather emergency or tornado warning does occur the school itself will sound an intermittent alarm through our fire system,” added Seger.

Students are then directed to designated shelter areas.

If you are at home, what about the possibility of a reverse 911 call?

“We're not in the process of doing that now. From emergency management stand point we're pushing the weather radios,” said Luther Taylor, St. Joseph County Emergency Management Director.

“The reverse 911 system, the 211 system — we're looking at all that stuff, it's not out of the picture," Young added.

Other options include:

  • The WSBT StormTracker Channel, Digital 22.3, which always has the latest watches and warnings 24 hours a day
  • Sign up for WSBT Alert text messages on your cell phone
  • The watches and warnings section of WSBT.com always has the latest information
  • Now you can get severe weather information from the WSBT Meteorologists on our Facebook page — just become a fan
  • You can also get the latest on Twitter, follow us at www.twitter.com/WSBTWeather

    Currently new mobile homes in Indiana are required to have a weather radio. But not everyone lives in a mobile home and there is no new legislation requiring homeowners to own a weather radio.

    “Well, I don't want to push the mandatory side of it too quick. But certainly we encourage the public to take that extra step on their own,” said Taylor.

    Even though there is no law requiring homeowners to have a weather radio, emergency managers recommend that you get one and program it for the county that you live in. You have a lot of options. It's up to you to monitor these sources.

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