Emergency Management Reminds Residents to be “Ready Okaloosa”

Spring brings with it some unpredictable weather, and Okaloosa County Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management would like to take this opportunity to remind residents to register for “Ready Okaloosa.” When you register for Ready Okaloosa, you can also register for a new feature, a Code Red Weather Warning, which will call only the residents in the area where severe weather is predicted, to let them know if they will by impacted by weather such as tornados, flash floods, etc.

“You can never be too prepared,” stated Public Safety Director Dino Villani. “I encourage everyone to not only have a weather radio in their homes, but also to register for Ready Okaloosa and the Code Red Weather Warning.” Over 650 residents have registered for Ready Okaloosa, it is easy to sign up and well worth the five minutes it takes to call or go online to register.

Here is how these programs work – Ready Okaloosa is a combined effort of the American Red Cross of Northwest Florida, United Way, Okaloosa Walton College, Americorp, Okaloosa County Public Safety and the Sheriff’s Office. When you register, you receive a free packet with a step-by-step instruction booklet about how to prepare for an emergency, information to inform not overwhelm residents. The free Ready Okaloosa envelope is convenient for home access or travel. Public Safety’s Emergency Management Division will even assist you in finding out if you are in a flood zone.

The Code Red Weather Warning system is a new feature that will physically call you if there are severe weather warnings in your area of Okaloosa County, and works on TDD/TTY phones for the hearing impaired.

Please feel free to call 850-651-7150 to register for Ready Okaloosa and the Code Red Weather Warning system, or register online at www.okaloosafl.com. For online registration it is easy as 1, 2, 3; follow these instructions:

1. From Okaloosa County home page, select the Public Safety icon
2. Select Ready Okaloosa to register
3. Select Code Red Weather Warning if you want to register for weather warning calls.