The Wood County Emergency Management Agency has issued the following advisory:
Wood County continues to be in the “enhanced” risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe weather later today (7-20-23). Thunderstorms will be possible through tonight with the highest chances for severe weather between 2 and 7 p.m.
Lightning, damaging wind gusts to 60mph and large hail are the primary concerns, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. All of NW Ohio has an increased risk of hail greater than 2”.
NWS Cleveland modeling has the highest chance for severe weather for Wood County between 5 and 7p.m.. This timing may have a negative impact on the evening commute. It is recommended to monitor local weather conditions before beginning your evening commute, and make sure to adjust your travel time if possible and needed. Additionally, be sure to have a plan (at least think about) where you would go or what you would do should conditions worsen, if you are away from home, and/or a tornado warning is issued.
Outdoor Warning Sirens Reminder
Based on recent events in NW Ohio, we would like to remind everyone: outdoor warning sirens are meant to be heard only outdoors, at a maximum distance of 1-2 miles. Ambient noise (traffic, wind, lawnmowers, headphones, power tools, etc.) may affect your ability to hear them. Outdoor warning sirens are a legacy system (old, WWII era re-purposed air raid sirens) that still has a place in warning those outside to seek additional information.
However, other methods of notification are more specific in giving you exact information of what, when, and where the issue is. Many of these other warning systems also take into consideration your exact location and proximity to the event. This valuable information can help you make the best, most well-informed decision you can. The outdoor warning siren only tells you something is going on, not any of these other important details.
We need to start focusing more on specific, reliable forms of notification and consider sirens as a backup plan should you happen to be outside without any of your access of technology.
It is also important to note that there is also no standard on how sirens are used. Wood County has three-zones which are activated based on the location of the event. Lucas and Ottawa County activate the entire county regardless of location, some counties sound them for severe thunderstorms, while some counties do not have sirens at all.
We recommend always having multiple ways to receive emergency alerts. CodeRED (the county’s mass notification system), NOAA Weather radio, media apps, TV, and other safety/weather phone apps (FEMA, The Weather Channel, radarscope, etc.). If you have the phone apps location on, it will follow you everywhere you have service.
