Wednesday, February 13, 2002
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Wednesday, February 13, 2002 |
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Severe weather sirens tested next week By JOHN
MUNFORD
If you hear the severe weather alert sirens next Wednesday morning, don't be alarmed. It's just a test. But the test, combined with severe weather drills at local schools, is part of how Fayette County will observe Severe Weather Awareness Week. Fayette is particularly susceptible to severe thunderstorms and straight line winds, which can cause enormous amounts of damage, said Capt. Pete Nelms, spokesman for the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Thunderstorms can touch off a number of house fires due to lightning strikes and also cause downed trees to become road hazards. "Although severe weather can strike at any time, the peak time is mid-February through June," Nelms said. In case of severe weather alerts, residents should seek shelter in hallways nearest to the center of their homes, Nelms said. Such areas are typically the strongest shelter in any structure, he added. Another way to stay safe is to be alert when local media warn that a severe weather system could be heading Fayette's way, Nelms said. "We also recommend using a NOAA weather radio," Nelms said. The radios, which come in different brands and models, send out loud alerts before broadcasting special messages from the National Weather Service about potential severe weather. More sophisticated models can be programmed to announce alerts that are issued only for Fayette County. Previously, the radios picked up alerts for the entire state and annoyed the users so much that they would unplug the unit, Nelms noted. The radios are generally sold at stores like Radio Shack and Wal-Mart, Nelms said. He urged residents to buy theirs now because when a severe weather event threatens Fayette, they quickly fly off store shelves. A recent grant from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency purchased 300 NOAA weather radios for public buildings such as schools, day care centers, government buildings and some churches, Nelms said. The county's severe weather alert siren system depends on three units mounted near areas most susceptible to severe weather: manufactured home communities. Two more such units should be installed before summer, Nelms added. The test slated for next Wednesday will be postponed to the following Friday, Feb. 22, if severe weather is nearby Wednesday, Nelms said.
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