Ohio Launches Traveler Alert System to Enhance Safety Amid Severe Weather
Columbus, OH – The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), in collaboration with the National Weather Service Wilmington (NWS Wilmington) Forecast Office and Lamar Advertising, has unveiled the Ohio Traveler Alert System (OTAS). This innovative initiative aims to bolster traveler safety by disseminating real-time alert information on digital billboards during severe weather incidents.
The inaugural phase of the OTAS rollout will encompass 50 billboards strategically positioned across the metropolitan areas of Dayton and Columbus. These billboards will serve as vital conduits of crucial weather updates, particularly concerning severe weather conditions such as high winds, snow squalls, heavy ice, and flooding. The system is designed to complement existing real-time alert resources, including television and radio broadcasts, as well as weather apps.
Sima Merick, Executive Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, lauded the OTAS as a significant step towards safeguarding Ohioans and visitors navigating the state’s roadways. “The Ohio Traveler Alert System is a great way to keep Ohioans and visitors safe and aware on the roads,” remarked Merick. “This potentially lifesaving project will provide critical weather updates to Ohio travelers.”
Effective communication via billboard alerts holds particular importance for travelers unfamiliar with their surroundings and potential weather hazards. Moreover, it serves as a valuable information source for all drivers unaware of impending severe weather events, thereby enhancing overall safety on the roads. Additionally, residents residing within the vicinity of the billboards stand to benefit from the timely dissemination of weather-related information.
Following an assessment of the program’s efficacy in Dayton and Columbus, officials anticipate expanding the OTAS to other regions across the state.
To access further information about OTAS, interested individuals can visit EMA.Ohio.Gov.
