Marion County hosts weather radio giveaway

MARION COUNTY — The Marion County Emergency Management Agency will  host a weather radio giveaway and HyperReach sign up event  on Saturday, April 22, in Hamilton and Winfield.
Marion County EMA Director Eric Terrell stated the event will be held in Hamilton at the Hamilton City Hall and at Winfield City Hall from 8 to 11 a.m.
Interested individuals may attend the event to sign up for Marion County’s free HyperReach weather notification system and receive one weather radio per household.
Terrell did not state the specific number of radios that will be available on the day of the giveaway, but he stated the EMA will certainly run out.
“We’re definitely going to run out of radios. But, we also want to push the HyperReach program. That’s the second-most reliable way to receive alerts and warnings. It’s a big deal,” said Terrell.
“We’re going to give away as many radios as we can at each location. They may go pretty fast, but we’ll be there for several hours to sign people up for HyperReach once the radios run out.”
Terrell stated, although a limited quantity will be available for individuals to collect, he does not expect any issues with giving away radios in an orderly fashion.
Terrell emphasized the importance of owning a weather radio in one’s house, especially during storm season in Alabama.
“The weather radio is the most reliable way to receive weather alerts. We want to get as many of those in houses as much as we possibly can,” said Terrell.
“With the last month of severe storms and tornadoes that we’ve had in the county, we need everybody as prepared as possible.”
Terrell stated the EMA has partnered with the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council to receive grant funding in order to hold these giveaways.
“Without them, we couldn’t do it,” he said.
Terrell stated State Representative Tracy Estes and Northwest Alabama RC&D Vice Chairman Don Barnwell played important roles in helping the EMA get grant funding in order to host the giveaway and sign up event.
“Every year that we’ve put in for (the grant), we’ve received it,” said Terrell. “The RC&D staff has been awesome.”
Terrell also thanked the Marion County Commission and the Marion County Fire Association.
Terrell mentioned the fire department will be available to program the radios. Those who already own weather radios may also bring them in for programming.