The horrific flash flooding and loss of life that occurred in Kerr County, Texas, over the July 4th weekend remind us all that severe weather events can strike anytime, anywhere. We have no control when or where it happens, but we can have a plan for it just in case. And, the first part of that plan should be a reliable way of receiving critical notifications and alerts ahead of time.
Our area is no stranger to severe weather events. Tornadoes, derechos, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and even a few crippling ice storms have impacted our area over the years. And, we’ll continue to see severe weather impacts across the region in the future. Relying on favorable odds and luck for your and your family’s safety won’t cut it.
Getting severe weather warnings and alerts during the daytime isn’t much of a problem for most of us. We have multiple ways of getting weather warnings and information in advance – commercial radio and TV, the internet, and our cell phones are just a few.
But, what about in the dead of night, when you and the family are sound asleep and a tornado or severe winds from a thunderstorm are bearing down on your home? Would you and your family get the warning?
ENTER NOAA WEATHER RADIO
If you’re reading this at home, you can probably spot a smoke detector nearby. Smoke/fire detectors alert you and your family members to a fire and give everyone time to get out, even in the middle of the night. We all know that smoke detectors are vital life-saving devices.
A NOAA Weather Radio receiver does the same thing for severe weather warnings. These special radio receivers will alert you and your family to impending severe weather in your location. An early warning in the middle of the night will give you and your loved ones time to get to your safe place. And, the alerts come directly from the National Weather Service, so there is no network relay or delay.
Like a smoke detector, a properly programmed weather radio will alert you and your family when you’re most vulnerable – in the middle of the night. They don’t depend on the internet or cell networks to function. They’ll continue to work just fine even when technology fails and these networks go down. That’s especially good to know if you live in a rural area and cell coverage is iffy or non-existent. They even have a built-in battery backup in case the power goes out.
Yes, NOAA Weather radio is kind of old-school. It’s been around for decades. Over the years, the free service has been improved and modernized. NOAA Weather Radio is the most trusted and reliable way to get immediate warnings of approaching hazardous weather.
Just like home smoke alarms, weather radios sit silently until a weather alert is sent out by your local NWS office. The receiver then generates a loud tone followed by critical details of the alert directly from your local NWS office.
They’re inexpensive, too. These days, you can purchase a decent weather radio for under $50. Several models can be found in the $30 – $40 range. They’re available at many retail and sporting goods stores. Online stores such as Amazon carry them as well.
Even the most affordable models are highly customizable and can be programmed for your specific location and the alerts that are important for your situation. For example, you can elect to bypass coastal and tsunami alerts if you don’t live near the ocean.
You’ll also need to enter your county. We’re lucky to have a transmitter right here in Tuscarawas County. Station WNG735 is located in Stone Creek just south of New Philadelphia. The transmitter covers our entire county and portions of several nearby counties with a strong 300-watt signal. You’ll find it at 162.425 MHz. This is probably the most reliable transmitter for residents in our area.
You also know for certain that your weather radio is set up correctly to receive alerts. In our area, the NWS office near Pittsburgh conducts a test of the alert system every Wednesday around 11:00 a.m. The 121 other local NWS offices across the US follow a similar testing schedule. If you’ve programmed your unit correctly, it will alarm when the test signal is initiated.
In addition to providing immediate weather alerts, NOAA Weather Radio also receives NWS weather forecasts and other local weather programming 24/7. This feature remains silent until you press a button on the receiver that enables you to hear them. Otherwise, the unit sits silently waiting until it receives an alert you programmed to activate.
CHOOSING A WEATHER RADIO FOR YOUR HOME, BUSINESS, OR ORGANIZATION
There are inexpensive models that are excellent choices for home use, and there are some high-end models with additional features. I’ve always found the basic models work well for my needs, but there are a couple of important things you need to look for:
- SAME TECHNOLOGY: This is the most important feature you need on your weather radio. SAME stands for Specific Area Message Encoding. Each US county and each warning type has a specific code. This code is transmitted by NWS when an alert is issued. Your weather radio with SAME technology receives the code and determines if the county and the alert type match the desired programming. If it does, the unit activates the alarm. This assures that you only receive alerts for the county(s) you specify, as well as the alert type you program to receive. Look for the Public Alert logo to be sure the radio you choose uses SAME Technology. The vast majority do, but there are some really cheap sets out there that do not include SAME.
- BATTERY BACKUP: Check to be sure the unit has a battery backup. Most do. This keeps the radio working in the event of a power failure – a common occurrence in severe weather situations. Make sure you keep fresh batteries in your unit. Installing a fresh battery twice each year when we change time in the spring and fall – just as you do with your home’s smoke alarms – is perfect.
SUMMARY
The chances of your home, workplace, church, or club being struck by a violent storm, flood, or tornado are pretty low. But, like the threat of fire, we never know when or where that might happen. To protect your home and family, it is best to have the most reliable way of receiving warnings when severe weather threatens, no matter what time of the day or night that might be. A properly programmed and functioning weather radio will assure that you receive weather alerts tailored specifically for your needs so that you can get to a safe place.
Way too many good people think that injury or fatalities from severe weather won’t happen here. But it can. And it probably will some time. There is simply no reason for anyone to get hurt or perish because they didn’t get the warning. Just like a first aid kit and smoke alarms, every home should have a weather radio. Consider adding one to your family’s arsenal of preparedness tools.
I am not associated with or invested in any manufacturer or supplier of the radio receivers described in this article.
