DELAWARE — Menacing winds, sheets of rain and a few flood warnings are some of the less-than-ideal weather conditions that have plagued Delaware County recently.
No doubt folks remember the hailstorm during May’s First Friday event, too.
But surprisingly, only about 15-25% of Delaware County residents would have received a message alerting them about the inclement weather, according to Delaware County Director of Emergency Management Alex McCarthy.
To combat this statistic, Delaware County Director of Communications Jane Hawes and McCarthy presented a new video to the Delaware County commissioners that explains all the resources available to residents when the dark clouds roll in.
The video, created in partnership with Outsider Video + Motion Graphics of Columbus, explains how people can receive wireless emergency alerts, Delco Alerts or snow level alerts directly to their phones.
Hawes said she and McCarthy began working on the video because how residents learn about incoming severe weather has been a “perennial issue.”
“Whether it’s snow and ice season or thunderstorms and tornadoes, each season provides challenges for people when they need to get accurate information correctly and quickly,” Hawes said.
“This video that we created in less than two minutes tells them about information tools that are available.”
Hawes and the video also explained how outdoor warning sirens, typically used for a tornado, aren’t always reliable for people indoors when rough weather is inbound.
“We hear from people, and they’re like, ‘I couldn’t hear [the siren] in my house,'” she said. “Every year, we have to explain that’s not what the intention is for that particular tool.”
The video explains how outdoor sirens are intended to be heard by people who are outside during a storm.
Different kinds of alerts
Aside from the outdoor sirens designed for folks at a campground, park or other public space, McCarthy shared several other ways people can stay informed.
Delaware County Emergency Communications Department and 911 operators currently run Delco Alerts, and people sign up for the alerts online.
Delco Alerts is customizable and allows people to choose whether they want to receive up to 12 different alerts. From missing persons reports and evacuation messages to weather alerts as specific as freezing rain warnings and severe thunderstorms, the alert system covers a lot of ground.
Snow Level Alerts are texts issued by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. To sign up, just text DELCOSNOW to 888777.
People who don’t live in Delaware County, but may have a business, child, older family member, etc., can also sign up for Delco Alerts.
As mentioned, the Delaware area recently got a lot of rain, but thankfully avoided major flooding.
“Here in Delaware County, we’ve got a couple of significant reservoirs thanks to some Army Corps projects,” McCarthy said. “Those reservoirs are meant to hold back water to prevent flooding downstream.
“We are seeing water back behind the Delaware Reservoir,” he added. “For instance, right now, the water levels we’re seeing are about on par with what we see about once a year over there.”
McCarthy added that the Ohio Department of Transportation was keeping an eye on a few road closures, but for the most part, Delaware County did not see dramatic issues from the heavy rains.
However, should severe weather rear its ugly head again soon, McCarthy hopes to get more residents using Delco Alerts to surpass the 15-25% usage statistic that is common across the nation.
“One of the things I’d love to see here in Delaware County is a much higher proportion,” he said.
