Stolen Copper Leaves Locals without Weather Radio Service
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: February 5, 2013
Weather radios are essential to knowing what's happening when weather strikes.
"To get up-to-date weather information, especially warnings that are issued, severe thunder storm warnings or tornado warnings 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said KRBC Chief Meteorologist Randy Turner.
And if there had been a storm, the National Weather Service says it could have had an impact if people were not able to listen to their weather radios due to stolen copper wires.
"What if the national weather service had issued a severe thunder storm warning today, or a tornado warning, and that transmitter was not functioning? Some people would not have been able to get the warning that they needed," Turner explained.
The NWS has asked us not to disclose the location of this tower in fear that vandals may strike again.
"Transmitters are located in generally rural areas," explained Turner. "And the national weather service probably rather you not know where they are so that things like this won't be happening again in the future."
But the NWS is working on a new website that will have a weather radio available on your computer and phone, to help prevent things like stolen copper from keeping people safe.
"That's a good thing because everybody has a mobile phone these days," Turner said. "And you can get warnings where ever you happen to be. And it doesn't really matter if the NOAA weather radio isn't handy. On your phone, or maybe an app, it can just pop up a warning that you need, where you happen to be."
"To get up-to-date weather information, especially warnings that are issued, severe thunder storm warnings or tornado warnings 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said KRBC Chief Meteorologist Randy Turner.
And if there had been a storm, the National Weather Service says it could have had an impact if people were not able to listen to their weather radios due to stolen copper wires.
"What if the national weather service had issued a severe thunder storm warning today, or a tornado warning, and that transmitter was not functioning? Some people would not have been able to get the warning that they needed," Turner explained.
The NWS has asked us not to disclose the location of this tower in fear that vandals may strike again.
"Transmitters are located in generally rural areas," explained Turner. "And the national weather service probably rather you not know where they are so that things like this won't be happening again in the future."
But the NWS is working on a new website that will have a weather radio available on your computer and phone, to help prevent things like stolen copper from keeping people safe.
"That's a good thing because everybody has a mobile phone these days," Turner said. "And you can get warnings where ever you happen to be. And it doesn't really matter if the NOAA weather radio isn't handy. On your phone, or maybe an app, it can just pop up a warning that you need, where you happen to be."
