NOAA Weather Radio Giveaway Communicating During Disasters

BUTLER COUNTY, KS - Butler County's Hazard Mitigation plan identified tornadoes as its highest rated hazard. Close behind were flooding and hazardous materials. Also identified in the plan was the need to effectively and efficiently communicate with special populations before a crisis strikes.

Butler County’s Mitigation Team designed an entry form for a weather radio giveaway for the elderly, disabled, and lower income families with children under the age of 10. The county partnered with Interstate Battery to provide the 9-volt battery backups and with the Department on Aging, Health Department, Red Cross, SRS, cities, senior citizen clubs and schools to distribute the entry forms. The "contest" ran for 2 months. At the end of that time, there were 109 entries. All of these entries received a weather radio. In addition, radios will be providing to every senior center, school, nursing home, and day care center not covered by weather radio for a total of 210 radios.

210 families, individuals and gathering places for special populations will now have first-hand information on disaster and emergency issues. These radios will enable these groups to take the necessary actions to protect their lives and/or property in a much timelier fashion.

Standard Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program makes Federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in participating communities.

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