Howell County Emergency Management is launching a temporary assistance program to distribute free National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Alerting Radios to vulnerable residents and those living in areas with poor cellular or television coverage.
The initiative is funded through an Emergency Management Performance Mini Grant awarded to the county, according to Emergency Management Director Mike Coldiron. Due to a limited supply, radios will be distributed based on an application process designed to identify households with the greatest need.
The application window opens Monday and closes at 4 p.m.July 30. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.
To qualify for a free radio, applicants must meet specific criteria, which include household income below a specified threshold, residence in a high-risk weather zone, enrollment in senior citizen or disability assistance programs, or participation in community disaster preparedness training. Applicants may be required to submit supporting documentation, such as income statements, utility bills or official identification linked to assistance programs.
Applications will be available on the Howell County Emergency Management Facebook page, @howellcountyema, for printing. Physical copies can also be picked up at the Howell County Clerk’s Office, 35 Court Square, or at the Howell County Emergency Operations Center by calling 417-255-0515 to schedule an appointment.
Completed forms must have all sections filled out to be considered. Applications can be submitted via email to emd@howellcountymo.gov or by mail to:
Howell County Emergency Operations Center
Attn: Wx Radio
35 Court Square, Suite 203
West Plains, MO 65775
Approved applicants will be notified by phone within 10 days of the closing date to arrange for pickup or delivery.
