Published: August 27, 2008 10:45 pm            

Weathering the storm

United Way gives 200 radios to low-income residents

By Trent Moore

trentm@cullmantimes.com

The Cullman United Way looked more like an electronics store Wednesday morning, when the agency gave away 200 new weather radios to residents in Cullman.

“We’re giving out weather radios to low-income families,” Cullman United Way Executive Director Kasey Kearce said. “We just want to make sure the families that can’t afford one gets one.”

Kearce said the project is all the more timely considering how unpredictable the weather in Cullman can be.

“You never know how the weather is going to be around here,” she said. “We just wanted to be a part of helping the community and making sure the people of Cullman are well-prepared.”

Kearce said community turnout to pick up the radios was exceptionally high.

“People were lined up at the door when we opened,” she said.

Cullman County Emergency Management Agency Director Phyllis Little also volunteered her expertise to assist with the project. Little programmed all 200 radios to the right frequency for the Cullman area, so they will be pre-programmed and ready for use.

“All you have to do is set it for the Cullman transmitter,” she said.

The frequency, 162.450, is the National Weather Service frequency specific for the area.

“It’s simply for Cullman,” Little said.

Providing the radios is a great idea, Little said, and is the best way to keep residents up-to-date during inclement weather.

“A weather radio is the fastest, most effective way to get weather news,” she said. “Those radios are usually going off at the same time we’re getting information. It’s the most accurate way to get alerts.”

Kearce said if the radios help just one person make it through a storm it will have been worth all of the effort.

“If it saves one life it’ll be worth it,” she said.

The weather radio giveaway stemmed from a recent $5,000 donation from Pepsi for the cause. Walmart donated 600 AA batteries to power the devices.

“We’re just so appreciative of everyone who helped make this happen,” Kearce said.

        

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