Roane County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) partnered with Lowe’s in Harriman to host a successful Tune It Tuesday event on Tuesday, September 23. The statewide initiative, supported by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), helps ensure residents are prepared with NOAA weather radios that can provide lifesaving alerts during severe weather.
The Roane County event was met with an overwhelming community response. All available weather radios were distributed in less than an hour, and even after supplies ran out, many residents purchased their own radios from Lowe’s and brought them outside to be programmed and outfitted with free batteries provided by EMA.
The effort was made possible by the teamwork of Roane County EMA staff alongside representatives from Harriman City Fire Department, South Roane County Volunteer Fire Department, Roane County Rescue Squad, and the local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). Lowe’s staff provided outstanding support as the host location, and TVA’s donation of radios and batteries made the initiative possible across the state.
A special thank-you goes to Benny Braden, a former Roane County first responder who now donates his time to capture community events through photography. His photos helped document the success of the evening.
Events like Tune It Tuesday highlight the importance of being weather aware in Roane County. Severe weather can develop quickly, and having multiple reliable ways to receive warnings can save lives. While NOAA weather radios are one of the most effective tools for receiving alerts day or night, Roane County also offers its own Hyper-Reach notification system. Hyper-Reach delivers emergency notifications by phone call, text, or email to residents who are signed up for the service.
All residents are encouraged to register for Hyper-Reach to ensure they receive timely alerts about severe weather, road closures, or other local emergencies. Signing up is quick and free, click here to sign up.
Roane County is proud to have participated in this statewide preparedness initiative and remains committed to providing residents with the tools and information they need to stay safe. By combining weather radios with local resources like Hyper-Reach, our community can be better prepared and truly Weather Ready.
