As part of the National Emergency Management Awareness month, our Emergency Management Agency (EMA) held another NOAA weather radio and pillow shaker/strobe light distribution event at the Macon Mall on August 28.

“I was overwhelmed with the turnout,” said EMA Director Spencer Hawkins. “It was so exciting to see so many people actively engaged in their safety and emergency preparedness. We gave out over 400 radios in 90 minutes and that would not have happened without my amazing Emergency Management team and volunteers.”

The EMA team handed out a total of 434 weather radios to Macon-Bibb County residents.

“In any emergency situation, timely and accurate information is your most valuable asset. A weather radio is an important tool to ensure you stay informed when every second counts,” said Hawkins.” It’s a device that doesn’t rely on cell towers or internet connectivity and allows you to receive alerts directly from the National Weather Service. Owning a weather radio isn’t just a good idea, it’s a critical part of your emergency preparedness plan.”

The last distribution event was held in June, where 1,000 radios and pillow shakers were given out at the Macon Mall. In the last year, EMA has given a total 4,000 radios and pillow shakers to Macon-Bibb County residents.

If you were not able to make it to the giveaway, you are highly encouraged to sign up for MBCAlert by going to www.maconbibb.us/mbcalert or getting the free mobile app. You can also follow EMA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for weather updates. Hawkins also wants to stress to people that follow local media and weather forecasters on their social media channels to make sure they get as much information as possible about emergencies and severe weather.