It's National Preparedness Month!
postedBe Informed
September is National Preparedness Month, and the Madison Fire Department and Madison's Emergency Management want to help you prepare for disasters and emergencies.
The Madison area faces many hazards and threats, such as:
- Severe thunderstorms, strong wind, and tornadoes
- Extreme temperatures (hot and cold)
- Winter storms including ice and snow
- Flooding
We have several other threats as well, but this year’s preparedness month will focus on these risks. To learn more about others, visit ReadyWisconsin.
Throughout the month, we’ll update this blog with more ways you can stay safe. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an update!
Today, we’ll start with making sure you know how to receive important information and warnings.
Alerts & Information
To respond to an emergency, you have to know it’s happening.
You can receive alerts in many ways. Local news channels and radio stations are always a good option, but we recommend you also purchase a NOAA Weather Radio. These are programmed to alert you to the watches and warnings you want to know about close to home. They have battery backups and can give an audible alert so you will be aware even if you’re asleep or the power goes out. There are attachments available including strobe lights and bed shakers for anyone who may want or need something besides the audible alert.
You can also receive information through cell phones (wireless emergency alerts); trusted social media sources such as Ready Wisconsin, Dane County Emergency Management, and the Madison Fire Department; or online news sources. Make sure you trust the source to be quick and reliable. Many City of Madison web and social media pages will post information before, during, and after an event as well.
Finally, we recommend you sign up to receive local alerts through Dane County Emergency Management.
Watches vs. Warnings
For weather related events, the National Weather Service issues alerts and warnings. Be sure to know the difference between watches and warnings, and have multiple ways to receive these alerts.
In general, a "watch" means there is a risk of something happening and a "warning" means something is happening or likely to happen very soon.
This can be confusing, but some remember it as "watching for the threat" and then "warning others when it’s spotted" (for example, watch the sky for a tornado – warn others when you see it so they can shelter).
In our next National Preparedness Month blog, we'll help you make a "go kit" to have ready when emergencies happen.
This content is free for use with credit to the City of Madison Fire Department.
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