Tricia Parker May 12, 2005, 07:02 PM WBAY
Five years ago Thursday, a very strong storm literally ripped through St. Nazianz. The storm injured 28 people and caused millions of dollars in damage.
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Looking back, it's hard to believe anything good could come from the devastating storm, but that storm prompted many changes in the small Manitowoc County village. People in St. Nazianz say it made them better-prepared and they feel safer than ever.
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Inside Koeppen's Hardware Store, a weather radio warns Fred Koeppen and his customers when bad weather is on the way.
Koeppen says
radios like his
have become more commonplace over the past five years. "A lot of people did purchase a lot of radios in our community here."
St. Nazianz also erected a weather warning siren three years ago, but emergency officials say the radios are more reliable.
"Sirens have their value but they also have their limits," county emergency government director Nancy Crowley said. "Sirens are designed to be an outdoor warning system."
Crowley says most radios cost about $25.
For Koeppen,
it's a small price for peace of mind. "Especially at night, when we're tucked in and sleeping, someone's got their eyes and ears out for us," he said.
Valders also installed a warning siren three years ago. County officials say it's been sounded twice.
