Did your weather radio go off?

[pooh]

I was just awakened by a loud clap of thunder. Heard some rumbles throughout the night, but this one was loud so I decided to check the storm status on tv. When I put on tv, there was a red banner running across the tv screen stating that the tornado warning for Citrus County and northern Sumter County would expire at 5AM. This was quite a surprise!

I recognize that alerts have become more specific for location and most likely, TV was not in an area that needed a warning. Just wondered if my radio has gone belly up so to speak. Also have a Weather alert app on my phone.....that alarm didn't sound either, at least for here. It did go off just now for the fire weather warning in Chicago...my son and his family live there.

Weather man said it could be a busy day, weather wise....but it is RAINING...HOORAY!!!!

[Figmo Bohica]

Mine did, gave me a watch warning about the weather, also got a phone call on the land line and the cell. We are in Wildwood city limits.

[English Ivy]

Our weather radio went off twice. First time I think was around 3:30 or 4:00 for flood advisory and the second time around 4:30 for tornado warning for Sumter County. We are programmed for Sumter, Lake & Marion counties and live just north of 466A.

[marennorge]

...and even though it is set for Marion, Sumter and Lake Counties, it announced the storm in Hernando County that was producing the tornado warning. The Code Red alert rang on all the phones, too,

[DandyGirl]

Ours went off (the only reason I am up!). Looks like the warning has been cancelled.

[memason]

Yeah....weather radio a couple times and Code Red Alert hit the cell phones around 4:30am.

Don't need any tornado's, but the rain is very welcome...

[renielarson]

Weather radio woke us up at 4am and have been awake ever since!

[Ohio RailGirl]

My weather radio went off and home phone rang with code red alert. I'm in the Buttonwood area.

[marennorge]

...when I went outside for a few minutes to water the dog and to see if I could hear anything, it looked like no one else in the neighborhood was up. Most of these folks have lived here for 5 years, so do they know something we don't? We only moved here last Oct. Do folks around here take weather warnings seriously?

[twynsmom]

We are signed up for Code Red alert with Sumter CO. Sheriffs dept. We Didn't get a call this am. I remember when we signed up it asked what address should be monitored. Perhaps this is why we didn't hear anything. Went to the web site to check if our number was still registered and it is.

[graciegirl]

We moved from a place where severe weather and tornado warnings are about the same as here. Grew up with it, do not panic. Know what closet you are heading to if something blows in and wait for it to pass.

The liklihood of your being here afterwards and your home unscathed is very good.

It is good we have the warning systems but it must scare people to death who are new to them. For the most part it is usually a dramatic interlude with no ill effects.

[BarryRX]

We moved from a place where severe weather and tornado warnings are about the same as here. Grew up with it, do not panic. Know what closet you are heading to if something blows in and wait for it to pass.

The liklihood of your being here afterwards and your home unscathed is very good.

It is good we have the warning systems but it must scare people to death who are new to them. For the most part it is usually a dramatic interlude with no ill effects.
I live in Pennecamp and got a code red alert on my cell at 4:30. Lots of lightning and thunder until about 5am.

[Figmo Bohica]

We moved from a place where severe weather and tornado warnings are about the same as here. Grew up with it, do not panic. Know what closet you are heading to if something blows in and wait for it to pass.

The liklihood of your being here afterwards and your home unscathed is very good.

It is good we have the warning systems but it must scare people to death who are new to them. For the most part it is usually a dramatic interlude with no ill effects.

Tell that to the folks in Joplin, MO and Jarret, TX. No need to panic but all weather warnings should be taken seriously.

[Mimivillager]

My phone is also signed up for Sumter Cty and did not ring this morning.

[pooh]

I didn't get a Code Red call either. Interesting. Seems that those who got alerts were closer to Wildwood than I am. Wonder if that had some part in who was alerted. I signed up once again for Code Red. Will call Mom in law in a bit to find out if her radio went off. She lives just a few doors down.

[graciegirl]

Tell that to the folks in Joplin, MO and Jarret, TX. No need to panic but all weather warnings should be taken seriously.

Yes my dear. I said 'head to the closet when danger approached.' There is overall not much chance of bad weather harming you.

Or bad guys.:kiss:

You will most likely die of other causes.

Think of all of the people that you have known personally in your whole life and think how many died from bad weather.

Keep things in perspective, sign up for all warnings, be prepared, and use common sense.

Too much panic around these parts on everything, if you ask me.

[LittleDog]

I have a Midland Weather radio that is not working correctly. If I push the bar I get weather information. However, I get the message "check reception". I have not moved the radio or done anything to cause this to happen. My settings are correct. I have to assume that something is broken although if I can't get reception how come I can get the weather when I push the weather/snooze bar. However, just looking at the radio now I see that the "check reception" message is not showing. I guess I will wait and see whether the radio is working correctly now.

John

[saratogaman]

Did not get the Sumter tornado warning on the weather radio or the phone call.
We live near 466A...for where in Sumter was the tornado warning?
Did get the flood alert, though.

[F16 1UB]

I was up at 4 with nervous dog when I later heard the weather radio alert activate. Code red on phones - nope.

[tucson]

...when I went outside for a few minutes to water the dog and to see if I could hear anything, it looked like no one else in the neighborhood was up. Most of these folks have lived here for 5 years, so do they know something we don't? We only moved here last Oct. Do folks around here take weather warnings seriously?

Oh yeah, we do !! After the BIG tornado in 2007 that hit TV BIG time, we KNOW that you should take them SERIOUSLY !!

[skip0358]

Radio went off no phone alert but my address is probably outside the alert area. I tested the phone this AM with the alert # and it did work.Remember if the radio goes off listen to the message and be prepared. Do you have a plan in place and do you have emergency supplies? Please lets take a minute and be safe.

[buggyone]

I have a Midland Weather radio that is not working correctly. If I push the bar I get weather information. However, I get the message "check reception". I have not moved the radio or done anything to cause this to happen. My settings are correct. I have to assume that something is broken although if I can't get reception how come I can get the weather when I push the weather/snooze bar. However, just looking at the radio now I see that the "check reception" message is not showing. I guess I will wait and see whether the radio is working correctly now.

John

I suggest you call Midland radio customer service (number on their website) and let them talk you through re-programming. Mine also had the "check reception" message and I called and had them walk me through re-programming. Very easy to do. I have mine programmed for Sumter County.

Yes, mine went off at about 4 am for flood warning and about 4:30 for tornado warning. I then turned on Channel 10 to watch where the tornado cell was and it was headed toward Wildwood, Oxford, and The Villages before the cell dissapated just about 5 am.

I was talking with a friend this morning and asked if he had the Code Red on his phone or a weather radio. His weather radio is packed in the garage and they have Code Red on their cell phones (they just use cell phones) but they turn them off at night. Good moves!!

[KathieI]

I was up at 4 with nervous dog when I later heard the weather radio alert activate. Code red on phones - nope.

Who needs the radio or phone alerts when you have a nervous dog... Mine had me up most of the night, never mind thunder and lightening, he doesn't even like the rain???? Sure is a California dawg...

[MelZ]

Got the NOAA warning at 4:30 on our weather radio, nothing from Code Red. Tornado warnings should be taken seriously since the time from warning till the event can be very short.

When you go into the safe room it's a good idea to have a crank powered weather radio there also.

[LittleDog]

I suggest you call Midland radio customer service (number on their website) and let them talk you through re-programming. Mine also had the "check reception" message and I called and had them walk me through re-programming. Very easy to do. I have mine programmed for Sumter County.

Yes, mine went off at about 4 am for flood warning and about 4:30 for tornado warning. I then turned on Channel 10 to watch where the tornado cell was and it was headed toward Wildwood, Oxford, and The Villages before the cell dissapated just about 5 am.

I was talking with a friend this morning and asked if he had the Code Red on his phone or a weather radio. His weather radio is packed in the garage and they have Code Red on their cell phones (they just use cell phones) but they turn them off at night. Good moves!!

I contacted Midland customer support and I know I had the radio programmed correctly. She told me to unplug the radio and take out a battery for about 30 seconds and then replace battery and plug it in. She said that there will be an alert tomorrow and I should check that I receive it.
Just wanted to put this info. out if someone is also having the same problem that I am having.

John

[mikeandnancy1112]

We didn't get a call either. Think I will call Sheriff's Office to see why.

[momesu]

I didn't get either warning on weather radio or on phone....unless I slept through them both......I did hear the heavy rain and a bit of the thunder, but not enough of either that I woke up concerned.....I guess I sleep better than I thought. I'm off of Canal Street in Sabal Chase.

[memason]

Code Red Alert.... The system is capable of calling 50,000 phone numbers an hour. So, depending on when the tornado warning was issued and rescinded, it's possible they didn't get through all the numbers.

Would be interesting to know how many phones they have registered. I don't think Code Red Alert is something you can depend on to alert you of impending, fast moving storms.

Last year, it worked for me about 50% of the time. A couple of times, I got the call after the storm was completely over,

Cheers....

[buggyone]

I contacted Midland customer support and I know I had the radio programmed correctly. She told me to unplug the radio and take out a battery for about 30 seconds and then replace battery and plug it in. She said that there will be an alert tomorrow and I should check that I receive it.
Just wanted to put this info. out if someone is also having the same problem that I am having.

John

Hope your radio works. Yes, NOAA puts out a test every Wednesday. Your weather radio will not speak or alarm for the test but there is a yellow light that will go on and stay on for awhile during the test.

[pooh]

Who needs the radio or phone alerts when you have a nervous dog... Mine had me up most of the night, never mind thunder and lightening, he doesn't even like the rain???? Sure is a California dawg...

LOL....my Sydney was a true CA doggie, also....no thunder there, well very little. When she moved here, well..... ;) I miss her lots.

[pooh]

From checking the time of posts this morning, seems many of you were up early.... ;)

[ilovetv]

We moved from a place where severe weather and tornado warnings are about the same as here. Grew up with it, do not panic. Know what closet you are heading to if something blows in and wait for it to pass.

The liklihood of your being here afterwards and your home unscathed is very good.

It is good we have the warning systems but it must scare people to death who are new to them. For the most part it is usually a dramatic interlude with no ill effects.

Please do not pooh-pooh us anymore for wisely checking on why we did not receive NWS alerts on our weather radios properly set and tested, and why we did not received our Code Red message when we're registered just fine for both cell and land line phones.

Most of us here "grew up with it" and are not "panicking". The damages incurred right here in TV and the 20 deaths (outside TV) from the tornado that hit here in TV in 2007 are not to be pooh-poohed.

I'm certain the people who wrote this among dozens of other accounts on the linked page would not pooh-pooh our inquiries today.

Note from a Village of Mallory Square resident after the tornado:

Please pass along the importance of a Weather Alert radio. We've had ours since March and I had just complained to my husband that it was a waste of money - since it had never gone off. Well, at 3:11 am it sounded. We took one look at the TV that mentioned 'new construction area of The Villages'. We went to the closet and were protected from flying glass and debris. Our bed was covered with glass shards and the sheets and mattress cover all have holes. We are sure that little $29.95 investment kept us from serious injury!!!!! Also, our thanks to all of the neighbors who came around with soup, water, coffee, etc. It will take us all some time to get other this horrible event, but what better place to do it.

It's ALWAYS a beautiful DAY in The Villages -- it's just the NIGHTS that are a little ROUGH!!!!!!

Pat & Roger
1542 Eastover Terrace
(I've got mine . . . and I pray it NEVER goes off!!)

Tornado (http://www.villageofmallorysquare.com/tornado.htm)


Storm damage video:
The Villages Tornado - YouTube

Photos from Daily Sun:
http://virginiatrace.com/tornado/The%20Villages%20Daily%20Sun.pdf

[peaches]

We've had our weather radio for four years. We took it to the fire department to have it programmed since it gave information for Marion County and we live in Sumter. It went off today at 4:30 with the tornado warning. HOWEVER, hubbie got up, turned it off, and went back to bed. I found out this a.m. that it had been a tornado warning. The radio is now on MY side of the bed!

[pooh]

We've had our weather radio for four years. We took it to the fire department to have it programmed since it gave information for Marion County and we live in Sumter. It went off today at 4:30 with the tornado warning. HOWEVER, hubbie got up, turned it off, and went back to bed. I found out this a.m. that it had been a tornado warning. The radio is now on MY side of the bed!

Good idea....;)

[graciegirl]

Please do not pooh-pooh us anymore for wisely checking on why we did not receive NWS alerts on our weather radios properly set and tested, and why we did not received our Code Red message when we're registered just fine for both cell and land line phones.

Most of us here "grew up with it" and are not "panicking". The damages incurred right here in TV and the 20 deaths (outside TV) from the tornado that hit here in TV in 2007 are not to be pooh-poohed.

I'm certain the people who wrote this among dozens of other accounts on the linked page would not pooh-pooh our inquiries today.

Note from a Village of Mallory Square resident after the tornado:

Please pass along the importance of a Weather Alert radio. We've had ours since March and I had just complained to my husband that it was a waste of money - since it had never gone off. Well, at 3:11 am it sounded. We took one look at the TV that mentioned 'new construction area of The Villages'. We went to the closet and were protected from flying glass and debris. Our bed was covered with glass shards and the sheets and mattress cover all have holes. We are sure that little $29.95 investment kept us from serious injury!!!!! Also, our thanks to all of the neighbors who came around with soup, water, coffee, etc. It will take us all some time to get other this horrible event, but what better place to do it.

It's ALWAYS a beautiful DAY in The Villages -- it's just the NIGHTS that are a little ROUGH!!!!!!

Pat & Roger
1542 Eastover Terrace
(I've got mine . . . and I pray it NEVER goes off!!)

Tornado (http://www.villageofmallorysquare.com/tornado.htm)


Storm damage video:
The Villages Tornado - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmFOnQcIhsE&feature=related)

Photos from Daily Sun:
http://virginiatrace.com/tornado/The%20Villages%20Daily%20Sun.pdf

You are right of course to point out the real danger and the fact that a tornado did touch down here five years ago, but I didn't read that Dutchgirl was trying to pooh pooh anything, just trying with her words to not escalate the fear for people who have lived in areas that seldom or never got a tornado warning. Those of us who have lived in tornado prone areas don't stand outside and look for them for sure, we know where we are going and what we are going to do and we do it. AND in so doing we usually end up o.k. We have had a home blown apart as close as five down the street from us some years ago in Ohio. Thankfully, mercifully, most times, life is spared if people seek the proper shelter.

Dutchgirl did bump my Hurricane preparedness thread. The Daily Sun had an insert a few weeks ago that addressed this whole thing and I found it very helpful.

BK Cunningham, I had not seen where to seek shelter in all three counties. I have printed it and it now lives inside my kitchen cupboard door. Thank you.

[donkobes]

I've had our radio set by The Villages Fire Department, and we still don't get any alarms -- or calls! Help!!

[pooh]

I've had our radio set by The Villages Fire Department, and we still don't get any alarms -- or calls! Help!!

I wonder what's going on. My radio has been very reliable in the past. We had it originally set up for three counties, and it was going off for areas that didn't impact us so we set it .....oops my weather alert radio just went off full blast for a Marion County thunderstorm warning. As I was saying, we then set it for Sumter County and it didn't go off this morning. Mike the reset it for the thee counties and we just got a Marion County alert.
I'll have to watch the weather on tv to see if the storm moves into Sumter County warning area and listen for my weather radio to scream.