The Ellis County Press: CBS 11 and TXA 21 promote NOAA weather radio sales to benefit local chapters of the American Red Cross

CBS 11 and TXA 21 promote NOAA weather radio sales to benefit local chapters of
the American Red Cross
================================================================================
Editor on 03/11/2010 11:01:00


Weather radios available for purchase at area Walgreens stores
CBS 11 and TXA 21 have partnered with Midland Radio Corporation to offer NOAA
weather radios for sale at a reduced price at all 168 Dallas/Fort Worth area
Walg-reens stores. A portion of the purchase price from each radio sold through
June 30 will benefit the local chapters of the American Red Cross.
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) all-hazards weather
radios monitor special radio broadcasts from the National Weather Service and
the Department of Homeland Security to provide critical information in the event
of severe weather and other local emergencies.
The radios may be set to announce warnings for individual counties so that users
can receive alerts for the specific areas they select.
"I would consider a weather radio as essential as a smoke detector," said CBS 11
Chief Meteorologist Larry Mowry. "It is the best way to alert your family of a
tornado in the middle of the night.
While the ability to get warnings out in the daytime has improved dramatically
with new technology, night time warnings remain a challenge. In fact, a recent
study from Northern Illinois University found that from 1950 to 2005, only 27
percent of tornadoes occur at night, but 42 percent of killer tornado events
happen at night. If you want immediate warnings, a weather radio is the best
product to provide vital information."
Dallas/Fort Worth area Walgreens stores are offering the Midland WR-100 weather
radio for $29.99. The radios are also available for purchase online. More
information is available at www.cbs11tv.com and www.txa21tv.com.
_The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to
victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches
lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports
military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization
- not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the
American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit
www.redcro ss.org. _