OU Weather Radios

By Audrey Esther and Darren Brown, news9.com INsite Team

Knowing when to seek shelter can make all the difference when it comes to staying safe during severe weather. This spring, the University of Oklahoma police department hopes that placing weather alert radios in all campus buildings will keep students, faculty and staff safe when severe weather strikes.

 "It's important for all citizens to pay attention to the weather and to particularly pay attention to weather warnings so that they can seek shelter in sufficient time and ultimately it comes down to preventing injury," Lt. Bruce Chan, OUPD police department spokesman said.

About six weeks ago OUPD received more than 400 weather alert radios. So far, they have distributed about half of them. All radios are pre-programmed to receive alerts specifically about Cleveland County and provide a direct link between those on campus and the National Weather Service.

"These weather alert radios will go off whenever the alert is put out so that eliminates any kind of time lag," Chan said.

That's especially important for those on campus who might not have access to any weather warnings.

"If we don't have the TV on, or we don't have alerts coming up on our computers, I don't know exactly how else we would find out," Jilane Rodgers, OU senior said.

Beginning in April, the National Weather Service will test the weather radio alarm system twice a day every Wednesday.