New Fed Bill Would Require Weather Radios in Mobile Homes

The legislation is named for a boy killed when a 2005 tornado hit his home in the middle of the night.

The U.S. House has approved a bill that would require manufactured and mobile homes to be equipped with emergency weather radios.

The legislation is named for C.J. Martin, a 2-year-old boy who was one of 23 people killed when a tornado struck southwest Indiana in 2005. His mother, Kathryn, says the federal legislation will save lives.

Ohio EMA officials are backing the measure. Kelli Blackwell, an EMA spokesperson, you shouldn't wait for the government to mandate that you purchase a weather radio.

"We strongly encourage that everyone, whether you're in a mobile home, a school, house, or business, invest in a weather radio," Blackwell said.

The National Weather Service has already sent radios to the majority of Ohio's schools.

Blackwell says anything that helps promote emergency preparedness has their support. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate.
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