Special to The Post-Searchlight

As hurricane season kicks off along the Atlantic coast, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s (GEMA) Ready Georgia campaign is giving away 100 NOAA Weather Radios, according to a GEMA press release.

From June 1 through July 15, Georgians can visit www.ready.ga.gov and create a “Ready Profile,” for a chance to win one of 100 Midland radios, which are considered to be lifesaving devices. Those who enter will also get a personal preparedness plan, as well as a customized checklist of emergency supplies.

“NOAA Weather Radios are a critical emergency preparedness tool for the home,” said Charley English, director of GEMA/Homeland Security. “Unfortunately, our research shows that only 30 percent of Georgia residents have one of these lifesaving devices. If you are sleeping or away from a computer or TV, your NOAA Weather Radio may be the only thing that will alert you to advancing threats, which are likely during hurricane season and year-round.”

WSB-TV in Atlanta donated the weather radios to help promote emergency preparedness and provide an incentive to get residents ready for disaster. In addition to winning a radio, Georgians also have the opportunity to purchase NOAA Weather Radios at a discount.

Throughout the campaign, WSB-TV is partnering with Kroger stores statewide to offer weather radios for $29.99 (regularly $49.99). A list of Georgia locations can be found at Kroger.com.

After winning a weather radio in last year’s giveaway, Nanette Chastine said the device has provided peace of mind during times of severe weather. Chastine created a Ready profile and signed up for the giveaway after her family was impacted by the tornado that ripped through Spalding County last April.

“We were lucky that we were awake when the storm came through,” said Chastine, a Griffin resident. “I don’t know what the outcome would have been otherwise. Having the NOAA weather radio is valuable in that it lets us know if something happens while we are asleep or if the power is out.”

For more information on hurricanes and their associated hazards, visit www.ready.ga.gov. For preparedness on the go, families can also download Ready Georgia’s free mobile app.

About Ready Georgia

Ready Georgia is a statewide campaign designed to educate and empower Georgians to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, potential terrorist attacks and other large-scale emergencies. The campaign is a project of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and provides a local dimension to Ready America, a broader national campaign.

Ready Georgia aims to prepare citizens for maintaining self-sufficiency for at least 72 hours following an emergency, and uses an interactive website, online community toolkit, broadcast and print advertising and public awareness media messaging to reach its audiences. Ready Georgia is also on Facebook and YouTube.