Staying alert to severe weather is safe, smart

Published 8:00 am Saturday, April 2, 2016

While winds and rains swept through Baldwin and surrounding counties early Friday morning, we were all fortunate that things didn’t turn worse and there seemed to be no major damage.

What Friday’s tornado and severe weather warning did demonstrate to us, however, is the importance of being prepared for the threat of severe weather.

Preparation is key to staying safe as weather circumstances can change in an instant.

Severe weather can happen at anytime, anywhere, and with spring’s arrival, the potential for violent weather increases.

We’re not always at home or near a television or radio when the threat of severe weather strikes. That’s why it’s important to make sure to have mobile phone weather apps and alerts on hand that send notifications directly to your smartphone or computer. Weather radios are also important.

Baldwin County launched a mass alert system last year that provides weather and emergency information via cellphones and email. The system was made possible in part through Georgia Emergency Management grant funds, allows emergency personnel at Baldwin County Fire Rescue and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to provide local residents with important information quickly and timely — whether it’s related to severe weather, road closures, missing persons alerts or evacuations.

Alerts are also available through the Milledgeville Police Department’s mobile app system.

To register for notifications, simply visit the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office website and a link is included on the homepage. Register for the MPD alert system by visiting the police department’s website and clicking on the public safety alerts app at the bottom of the homepage. Visit www.mpd.com and www.baldwinsheriff.com for details.

Ensuring you have a way to get severe weather warnings is essential.