Jennings County Citizen Corps will be receiving 90 weather radios to be distributed to long-term care facilities, day cares, mobile home parks, trustees, and emergency responder agencies. The remaining radios will be given away on FOX 59 news.

For Immediate Release March 6, 2006 INDIANA CITIZEN CORPS AWARDS WEATHER ALERT RADIOS
Indianapolis – Indiana Citizens Corps, a program administered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), announced today it will award 1,500 weather alert radios to several county Citizen Corps Councils. The announcement coincides with Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Citizen Corps Councils in the following counties are eligible to receive 100 weather alert radios each: Allen, Elkhart, Hendricks, Jennings, Johnson, Monroe, Porter, Posey, Scott, Spencer, Tippecanoe, Vanderburgh, and Warrick. Due to its large population, the Marion County Citizen Corps Council is eligible for 200 radios. Each council is responsible for offering appropriate training on how to utilize the radio.

“It is fitting Citizen Corps is announcing the distribution of weather alert radios during Severe Weather Awareness Week,” said J. Eric Dietz, IDHS Executive Director. “The devastation and loss of life Hoosiers witnessed last fall as the result of a tornado in southwestern Indiana is a clear indication of the need for early warning devices such as these radios. I congratulate the recipient Citizens Corps Councils on their award and commend them on their efforts to educate their communities on severe weather preparedness.”

Weather alert radios are a comprehensive, 24-hour source of weather forecasts, watches, warnings and other hazard information. Each recipient Citizen Corps Council submitted a proposal for radio distribution. In addition to coordinating with local media to promote the radios, local councils plan to distribute the radios to groups including schools, libraries, mobile home parks, nursing homes, daycare facilities, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), senior citizens, and specials needs populations.

The Citizen Corps Program, a national program, is a grassroots effort to involve citizens in hometown security through personal preparedness, training, and volunteer service. Citizens Corps programs include Volunteers in Police Service, CERT, Medical Reserves Corps, Fire Corps, and Neighborhood Watch. The program aims to create safer communities while preparing them to respond to potential hazards.

To learn more about weather alert radios, please visit www.weather.gov/nwr.