In the future Emergency Alert Days will be declared on the website

by Steve Dunford

Yesterday we witnessed an unprecedented event.  Every north-south thoroughfare in the county was tied up with people heading home after the eclipse, from several locations across Southern Illinois that experienced totality.

The average post during the traffic was reaching between 1,500 and 2,000 people.  During the flood and other severe weather events, there have been posts that have reached over 10,000 people.

This morning I went through and cleaned out several posts dealing with traffic.  During that, I was thinking other media outlets use words to key people in on what is happening.  For instance, KFVS issues a First Alert storm day.

On my walk today, I came up with a criteria to issue Emergency Alerts on the website.

• If there is a watch or warning issued by the Storm Prediction Center or National Weather Service in Paducah.  This goes for all products issued with watch or warning in the title.  This will not be issued for advisories.
• If there is a slight risk of severe weather (level 2 of 5 on the day of the event, or any forecast by the Storm Prediction Center, that has the region under an Elevated (level three of 5) Moderate (level 4 of 5) or High (Level 5 of 5) risk of severe weather.
• If there is a situation like yesterday, where roads are jammed or to avoid a stretch of highway in the county.
• If there would be an area that will be without utility service for an extended period of time.
• If there is a situation in the county that will affect a multiple number of people, for example, when the bomb threat was called in at Franklin Hospital.

I, or if staff is added someone else,  will make a post with this clipart to the left, explain the emergency why an alert is issued, and the main focus of coverage during the duration will focus around why the alert was issued.  There could be other news, sports, and weather posted during the duration.  Yesterday it was hard keeping up with the traffic alerts.

During severe weather events, Channel 3 Meteorologist Jim Rasor uses the phrase he is not trying to make anyone afraid but aware.  I know the words “Emergency Alert” sounds strong, but when I use them, it is not for drama, but awareness.

In events like this, I encourage you to have at least two ways to receive information.  One media outlet might have some information that I might not have or visa versa.

I keep either directly or indirectly with emergency officials in the county.  Thank you for the trust you shown in me yesterday, I hope I can continue to keep that trust, and earn more citizens of Franklin and surrounding counties in the future.