Arkansas Billboard Company Notifies Drivers During Tornado Warnings

[Jacob Melton]

Here's a great article I saw recently about a Billboard Company in Arkansas by the name of "Ashby Street Outdoor Advertising" creating a system using their outdoor electronic billboards to spread the word on Tornado Warnings issued by the National Weather Service, including it in action during the April 30th severe weather event. https://5newsonline.com/2019/05/01/arkansas-billboard-company-notifies-drivers-during-tornado-warnings/

 

[James K]

Good for them. What a perfect use for those billboards!

 

[Quincy Vagell]

Using billboards for warnings is a great idea. I've seen some DOT signs also post alerts for tornado warnings.

I noticed that in Oklahoma City, some billboards will alert motorists of potential severe weather. It sounds like a good idea, but earlier this spring, there was a marginal (SPC MRGL) risk for severe thunderstorms that just grazed the south side of Oklahoma City, while southern parts of Oklahoma into Texas were included in a more legitimate threat. A billboard in Oklahoma City said "severe weather today." I'm not sure that's the best use, but then again, Oklahoma City media is known for hyping up even the slightest (no pun intended) risk of severe weather. Severe thunderstorms did not impact Oklahoma City that day.

 

[Steve Miller]

This is super cool! Now if we can get smart assistants like Alexa to push geo-fenced higher-end warnings to the 118,000,000 devices they have sold in the US alone, maybe we can make some real strides toward truly warning the public.

 

[John Robinson]

This article shows one of the billboards in action.

Arkansas billboard company implements tornado warning alert system

A Fayetteville company is aiming to keep Arkansans safe by offering advertising billboards to be used during tornado warnings. According to a press release, Ashby St. Outdoor Advertising is using digital billboards to inform the public of a possible tornado threat. When a tornado is issued from...

katv.com

 

[Jacob Melton]

This is super cool! Now if we can get smart assistants like Alexa to push geo-fenced higher-end warnings to the 118,000,000 devices they have sold in the US alone, maybe we can make some real strides toward truly warning the public.

Absolutely agree with you there. Would take some work I'm sure but definitely would be a huge stride towards warning the public of dangerous weather in my view.

 

[Quincy Vagell]

If it's kept mainly to warnings and other critical information, then I'm all about it. I've seen this done in parts of Missouri too, now that I think about it. I encountered a tornado warning near St. Louis and some signs mentioned the warning. I would stress caution with the OKC example I gave, because you don't want to desensitize the public either by having the signs constantly light up when there is no imminent danger.