State officials and local emergency managers have proclaimed Wednesday, Nov. 10 as "Winter Weather Preparedness Day" in Jackson County, urging citizens to prepare for an active winter weather season by having a plan, making a kit and staying informed.

“In the past few years Oklahoma has experienced devastating winter weather, which has included numerous severe ice storms and a dangerous blizzard just last year," Jerry Gibson, Jackson County Emergency Manager, said. "We need to be aware of these natural threats we face in our community and take responsibility to make sure we are properly prepared when disaster strikes."

One of the best ways to begin preparing for winter weather is to maintain multiple ways to get weather information and warnings, according to Colston.

A grant provides reimbursement for 75% of the cost weather radios with Specific Area Messaging Encoders, available at a number of stores in the area and the City of Altus has an alerting system that will give weather warnings and other alerts to registrants.

Forms for the weather radio rebate program may be obtained at the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Jackson County courthouse, and Altus City Hall.

For more information about the City Alert System, see

http://www.cityofaltus.org.

The local emergency managers has joined with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service to raise public awareness about what can be done to prepare for hazardous winter weather. Individuals or groups who would like to

host a program to help become better prepared should call  Gibson at (580) 482-0229 or Colston at (580) 482-8333.

Winter weather safety tips can be found online at http://www.ok.gov/oem.