San Angelo residents receive weather radios following tornado
SAN ANGELO — Numerous San Angelo residents will be better prepared for inclement weather after receiving radios that will alert them to incoming storms and other conditions.
A joint effort between the San Angelo Standard-Times and FOX West Texas resulted in about 150 NOAA weather radios being donated and delivered to some of San Angelo's most vulnerable residents.
The media companies partnered in May after an EF-2 tornado ripped through parts of town.
It was the first major storm after the city retired its aging Cold War era warning sirens and opted for emergency messages delivered via the Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS), which sends out a message through cellphones, TV, radio, landlines and social media.
But not everyone received those alerts, and people quickly took to social media to express concern that San Angelo's oldest residents might not have the latest technology or ability to receive those alerts.
Several of the weather radios were delivered Thursday by Meals for the Elderly volunteer Eric Martinez, who said he enjoys the opportunity to reach out to those in need in the community.
"I'm an introvert so this gives me a chance to interact with people," Martinez said. "Some of the people I see don't get a lot of visitors so this is really good."
The media companies pitched in $250 apiece to get the fundraising started and partnered with Meals for the Elderly, which agreed to deliver the radios to its clients who most needed the technology.
Concho Valley Electric Co-Op donated about 60 radios, then Midland Radio donated boxes of radios to FOX West Texas after seeing their story on the drive.
Along with private cash donations, San Angelo's lemonade stand entrepreneur, Harley Ratliff, raised more than $1,000 during a lemonade stand event and GoFundMe drive for the cause.
"We appreciate everyone who came together for this cause," said Standard-Times news director Jen Guadarrama. "San Angelo is known as a community who supports and cares for each other and this just proves it."
Despite the drive, many more older residents could benefit from a NOAA weather radio, which can be purchased at most home goods and electronics stores.
More:Use these tools to get alerts and be prepared before severe weather, storms hit
Colin Murphey is a photojournalist covering all things in West Texas for the San Angelo Standard-Times. Send him a news tip at CMurphey@gannett.com. Consider supporting West Texas journalism with a subscription to GoSanAngelo.com.