Peoria – Peoria County’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is partnering with Peoria Riverfront Museum this month to encourage people to prepare themselves and their families for tornadoes and other severe weather that affects Central Illinois. Now through the end of April, anyone who sees Tornado Alley at the museum can enter to win one of two NOAA weather alert radios donated by Peoria County’s EMA. Contestants are also eligible to win Giant Screen Theater tickets for a future showing.

EMA and Peoria Riverfront Museum want to remind people that preparedness saves lives. EMA Director Vicky Turner explains, “Having an emergency plan in place and practicing that plan before disaster strikes will help family members know what to do and where to go when disaster strikes. Not only does this save precious reaction time, but it also saves lives.”

Drawing entry forms include detailed actions to take in the event a tornado warning has been issued or outdoor warning sirens have been activated, as well as directions for identifying local and out-of-state points of contact for family members to report into should disaster strike. A sample entry form has been attached to this release for your reference. Winners will be drawn on May 1, 2013.

For more information on the weather alert radio drawing or tornado preparedness, please call Peoria County EMA at (309) 691-3111.