Lucas County Emergency Management Agency

We've partnered with local agencies to set up safety shelters for residents in response to the extreme heat expected to begin on Monday, June 17 and continue throughout the week.

Toledo, Lucas County, and surrounding residents can use Toledo.oh.gov/extreme-heat for updates on cooling shelters. Using the map, enter your location to search for the nearest cooling shelter available.

For those who do not have internet access, United Way of Greater Toledo can find this information. Dial 2-1-1 to get connected with a local representative.

Stay cool, hydrated, and safe!

Lucas County Emergency Management Agency, Toledo Fire & Rescue Department, Toledo Police Department, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Human Relations Commission: Toledo, Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority, United Way of Greater Toledo, Toledo City Council, and Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board.

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REMINDER: Today (June 7, 2024) is the first Friday of June! We will be testing the outdoor warning sirens at noon.

📢 There's been a slight change of location for this upcoming G-2300 course being held 6/24/24-6/26/24. The course is now being held at the Lucas County EMS Training Center located (next door to the EOC) at 2127 Jefferson Ave, Toledo, OH 43604.

There is still time to sign up if you are interested and haven't done so already! Registration closes June 10th.

Lucas County EMA & Wood County EMA will be hosting this G-2300 Intermediate EOC Functions course on June 24th-26th, 2024 at the Lucas County Emergency Operations Center located at 2144 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43604! 👇

Students must enroll via the Department of Public Safety Training Campus website: https://learning.dps.ohio.gov/PSTC/

📢 REMINDER: Today (5/3/24) we will be testing the outdoor warning sirens at noon!

🚨DON'T FORGET🚨

Lucas County EMA is hosting a team from NWS - Cleveland as they give a 2 hour SKYWARN Storm Spotters Training Course! The class is Wednesday, May 8th from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Sylvania Branch Library and it is FREE.

Follow the link to register:
https://bit.ly/LucasCountySKYWARN2024

Please don't just throw away your eclipse glasses! You can recycle ♻️ them at any of the Toledo Library's 20 locations until April 17th! 🌎✨

After enjoying the eclipse, recycle your eclipse glasses at any Toledo Lucas County Public Library location ♻️✨ Through Toledo’s partnership with Astronomers Without Borders, all glasses in good condition will be reused in other countries to safely view future eclipse events. Glasses that cannot be sent will be recycled. 🌞🌝

Thank you to our partners: Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Imagination Station Toledo, and Destination Toledo

Here's a chart to know when you can have your glasses on and off during the total solar eclipse. | https://bit.ly/4aqC54X

As you make your way to viewing , remember don’t stop on the side of the roadway or on exit ramps. Do not try to view the eclipse while driving.

Happy April, Lucas County!

We would like to remind you all that today (4/5/2024) we will be testing the outdoor warning sirens at noon.

You must have proper special-purpose solar filters to view the April 8th ! Only during totality can you directly view the eclipse without a solar filter.

💥 T-6 days until the 2024 total solar eclipse passes over Lucas County! 💥

With the expected influx of people to our area that may slow down cellphone service, we would like to remind everyone of these tips:

- Connect to WiFi whenever possible
- Send text messages instead of voice or video calling
- If Wifi internet is available, use messaging applications like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc
- Preplan your travel routes

No jokes here for this April 1st. We have a *significant increase* in the severe weather potential for Tuesday, April 2nd. Plan ahead now for strong wind gusts, large hail, and the possibility of tornadoes across much of the area!

Lucas County EMA & Wood County EMA will be hosting this G-2300 Intermediate EOC Functions course on June 24th-26th, 2024 at the Lucas County Emergency Operations Center located at 2144 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43604! 👇

Students must enroll via the Department of Public Safety Training Campus website: https://learning.dps.ohio.gov/PSTC/

⚡️Interested in becoming a local weather spotter? Now’s your chance!⚡️

Lucas County EMA is hosting a team from National Weather Service - Cleveland as they give a 2 hour SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training Course on May 8th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm ET.

This class is FREE and open to all ages!

Follow the link to register:
https://bit.ly/LucasCountySKYWARN2024

Lunar eclipse serves as opening act as excitement builds for April’s solar eclipse The celestial excitement is ramping up in the U.S. with the lunar eclipse happening on Sunday and cities preparing for an economic boost from the Solar eclipse on April 8.

🚨 TODAY 🚨

Lucas County EMA will be activating the outdoor warning sirens at 9:50 am ET as part of Ohio's statewide tornado drill. We will also be testing the Lucas County Alerts system at 9:50 am ET by sending out a test text alert to all enrolled participants. Please do not be alarmed if you hear the outdoor warning sirens or if you receive the text alert.

Do you know the difference between a National Weather Service Watch and a Warning? Check your knowledge below.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Take shelter in a substantial building. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a large hail or damaging wind identified by an NWS forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.

Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.

Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.

SPRING FORWARD ⏰➡️ this Sunday, March 10th, 2024!

Set your clocks forward an hour before heading to bed Saturday night, and remember to test the smoke detectors in your home to ensure they are working.

Longer days are ahead! 🌞

5:30 AM | Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Severe thunderstorms are possible late this evening and overnight. All hazards are possible including: large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes. Given the timing of severe weather, ensure you have audible warnings set up!

💥 T-48 days until the 2024 total solar eclipse passes over Lucas County! 💥

If you plan on viewing the eclipse, be sure to secure CERTIFIED solar eclipse glasses! It's very important for the safety of your eyes to wear your eclipse glasses during the eclipse. The only time it is safe to remove your eclipse glasses is during the (approximately) 2 minutes of totality that we will have here in Lucas County.

Starting March 4th, you can request up to 4 eclipse viewing glasses from Toledo Lucas County Public Library (per household).

If you are going to order your glasses online be sure that they are CERTIFIED solar eclipse viewing glasses. You can tell if a pair of solar eclipse glasses meet today's standards if they are labeled ISO 12312-2.