Severe Weather Forecast-Are You Prepared?

Severe weather is expected to move through Northfield Township communities today and tonight.  Please remind your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors to visit www.ready.gov and learn how to prepare yourself, your family and your workplace for tornados, power outages, thunderstorms and flooding.

Storms can develop quickly.  Do you know the best way to get emergency alerts and warnings? 

If you have a disability that affects your communication, identify the best ways for you to access emergency information in advance.  What television stations in your area offer live captioning? 

Can you sign up for text, email, or telephone alerts through your municipality? 

Keep phones and communication devices charged, and always have a backup way of learning about emergencies.  Some options for alerts and warnings are listed below

Television stations with live captioning

Emergency Weather Radio (some can support strobe lights, bed shakers and text readouts)

Wireless Emergency Alerts – If you are in an area where the alerts are available and have a cell phone that is equipped to receive them, you may automatically receive a text message when an emergency alert is issued. 

Smartphone applications – Many smartphone apps will provide text and audio weather alerts.  You can set the locations and types of alerts you would like to receive.

Social Media – If social media is accessible for you, look for local emergency management agencies and news stations that also use social media to broadcast alerts and warnings.  Save these organizations to your ‘favorites’ or begin ‘following’ them in advance.

Local warning systems – Many localities have emergency alert services that will provide alert information to you in a format of your choice.  Most locations can send messages to email addresses, mobile phones (text or voice), landline phones, TTYs and Braille readers.  Contact your local emergency management agency to learn what options may be available in your community.

Community organizations- Some community organizations may translate alerts and warnings into American Sign Language Videos or formats that can be accessed via Braille readers (visit the DeafLink website for one example). 

Support network- Talk to trusted friends, family and neighbors and create a plan to notify each other of emergency information. 

Plan ahead NOW for the severe weather forecast and stay safe everyone.