EMERGENCY WEATHER RADIOS A MUST DURING EMERGENCIES

FROM:  WISCONSON DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
“Without our Emergency Weather Radio we’d be dead”
Park Falls couple urges everyone to “Listen, Act and Live!”
(MADISON) – Listen, Act and Live! Those three words helped save the lives of a Park Falls couple who listened to their emergency weather radio during a tornado outbreak, took action and survived. That's why they are taking their message to the airways this spring to encourage everyone to have the portable warning system before tornado season.

 On July 27, 2010, Larry and Rita Krznarich were camping on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage between Park Falls and Mercer. Just after 7pm, their emergency weather radio alerted them that a tornado was coming. They immediately told campers nearby and everyone took cover.

 Larry was injured in the tornado but Rita and others were ok. Everything at the campsite was destroyed.   “There was debris in chunks flying through the air” said Rita Kznarich. “If you’ve ever heard one tree fall you can imagine 50 trees all cracking and falling around you."

 Larry and Rita Krznarich believe that without the warning alert from their emergency weather radio - giving them the chance to seek cover - they would be dead. They are sharing their story in a powerful new TV public service campaign in hopes that more lives can be saved.

 In the public service announcement, Rita and Larry urge everyone to buy an emergency weather radio.   “Ever since the storm we’ve given weather radios to people as gifts. You can get them for $20 or in that range so there’s no excuse not to have one or many.”

 Wisconsin Emergency Management and its preparedness program called “ReadyWisconsin” are sponsoring this campaign. “Early warning from the National Weather Service via the emergency weather radio is a lifesaver” said Tod Pritchard, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. “Having an emergency radio in your home is just as important as having a smoke detector and having a portable radio is essential if you’re camping, fishing and hiking.”

 Along with the 30 second public service campaign, ReadyWisconsin is posting a longer version of Larry and Rita’s story at http://readywisconsin.wi.gov along with other tornado survivor stories from Kenosha and Eagle.   ReadyWisconsin is also giving away emergency weather radios as part of their ReadyWisconsin Trivia Challenge on the website. Everyone is also invited to post their severe weather survival stories on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/readywisconsin