I tend to think I am a pretty prepared person. I have taken CPR and First Aid training, have a plan for all different types of problems that could pop up, and have a fully stocked emergency supply kit.

 

However, I forgot one important thing to help me stay informed if an emergency occurs. Here’s what happened….

 

I recently bought my first house. I thought I was doing great because I knew what disasters could happen in my new area. I even have a crank radio to use if the power goes out so I can get information from authorities. What I didn’t take into account was if something happened while I was sleeping. Unfortunately, one night it did and I woke to a blinking clock and scattered tree limbs. I turned on the TV and heard reports of minor damage all over the region. Why didn’t I wake up? What if it had been worse?

 

After a little research, I learned that the tornado sirens in my area are loud enough for me to hear if I am outside but not if I’m inside-- and especially not loud enough to wake me up. I discovered that tornado sirens are designed to alert people who are outside during possible tornadoes. If you are inside, you are supposed to use a NOAA weather radio.

 

I knew about NOAA radios but always thought they were a pain because the one we had when I was a kid went off every time anything happened anywhere remotely close to us. It was such an annoyance.

 

Determined to find a solution, I headed to my local Wal-Mart and picked up one of the newer NOAA radios for about $15. I took it home, read the instructions, found the code for my county and had the radio programmed within 10 minutes. I placed it on the bottom of my night stand and now, it ONLY makes a loud noise when there is something I need to know about in my immediate area. I love it! The noise goes off, I hit a large button on it, and a voice tells me what emergency information I need to know about. When I’m done listening, I hit the button again and it is silent.

 

It has come in handy more than once and although it is called a “weather radio” it actually alerts you to any emergency that may affect my county. Plus, now I can sleep easier knowing that the radio will wake me up if there is an emergency that I need to be informed of. So, if you don’t have a NOAA weather radio, I strongly suggest you go pick one up. You never know when you will need it!

 

Nicole

 

Nicole Holtgrefe is the Preparedness Sales and Outreach Director for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.