(RILEY COUNTY, KS – April 26, 2021) With the potential of severe weather Tuesday and Wednesday, Riley County Emergency Management would like to remind everyone of the various ways to be notified of emergencies in the area.
“It is important to not rely on just one method. While our outdoor sirens are a critical part of our emergency notification system, individuals should also sign up for emergency notifications through Everbridge and have a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio All-Hazards,” encouraged Laurie Harrison, Riley County Emergency Management Coordinator.
Outdoor Warning Sirens
Outdoor Warning Sirens are located throughout Riley County. It is important to note that these sirens may not be heard indoors.
“The best thing to do after a siren sounds is to turn on the radio, television, or your cell phone to learn more about the emergency. This will give you better guidance of whether you need to leave your property in the event of flooding or seek shelter for a tornado, “ pointed out Harrison.
There is no “all clear” siren in Riley County. Just because the siren has stopped does not mean the threat is no longer present.
Emergency Notifications
You can sign-up to receive alerts via text message, phone call, or email in case of impending or occurring emergencies such as severe weather.
In addition to weather notifications, the following alerts may be subscribed to:
- Riley County Crime Alerts
- Riley County Prescribed Burns
- Riley County Public Health Alerts
- Riley County Wildcat Creek Flooding
- Tuttle Creek Lake / Blue River Alerts
Register for this FREE service at:
https://www.rileycountyks.gov/917/Emergency-Notifications
All-Hazards NOAA Weather Radio
The NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
NOAA Weather Radio currently broadcasts on seven frequencies in the VHF band, locally they are:
- Topeka 162.475 MHz
- Blue Rapids 162.425 MHz
- Abilene 162. 525 MHz
These frequencies are outside the regular AM or FM broadcast bands.
For more information on severe weather preparedness go to https://www.ready.gov/severe-weather
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