• Behavioral Issues
• Child Care
• Cleaning Up After a Storm
• Communication
• Deciding To Stay Or Go
• Evacuation Shelters
• First Aid & Medical
• Flood Center
• Food and Water
• Help the Relief Effort
• Insurance Center
• Lighting & Power
• Pet Care
• Preparing Your Home
• Special Needs
• Storms Explained

Home > Communication > Article

Small TextMedium TextLarge Text

---

The NOAA Weather Radio: An Invaluable Communications Tool

The NOAA Weather Radio should be a staple in your disaster supply kit.

From National Weather Service centers across your state, it provides continuous broadcasts of the latest emergency and disaster information. During a hurricane, this can be you best link to forecasting information, especially when the power cuts out.

• Your weather radio should be a combination of a plug-in/battery operated radio or a crank weather radio. This way, when the power goes out during a disaster, you and your family can still receive helpful information and alerts.
• The weather radio can provide you with local information- which is information that you might not be able to have should you tune into national radio or national television stations. Be aware that local radio and local TV stations will have the most relevant information (i.e., shelter information, water safety data) should a disaster strike your area.
• The NOAA radio provides messages twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, repeats messages every four to six minutes, and routinely updates them.
• During a weather emergency, the routine weather broadcasts will be interrupted with special warning messages. Some designed radios will sound an alarm which indicates that severe weather or another disaster is present. Then, by turning on the radio, one can gain more information about the threat.
• Radios that have SAME (specific area message encoding) technology can provide you with weather threats that are specific to your area. These codes are helpful when a disaster strikes your area, but are also useful for boaters and other water enthusiasts. For a national set of SAME codes to help provide you with local information, click here.
  
• NOAA weather radios are typically sold at electronics stores, some drug stores, and electronics areas of department stores. Your local boating supply store may also have NOAA Weather Radios available for purchase.