A NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio can give you the information you need to make important decisions that will affect your life and the lives of your family members. The NOAA Weather Radio broadcast contains information about all types of severe weather including tornado and flood warnings as soon as it is available, not on a scheduled interval or in conjunction with a TV or radio broadcast. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, a component of the nation’s Emergency Alert System, is comprised of a nationwide network of numerous transmitters directly linked with one of 123 local offices of NOAA’s National Weather Service. The closest office is the Wilmington, Ohio location which broadcast weather warnings that cannot be heard on a simple AM/FM receiver. Here are the radio features to look for:
• A special tone that precedes the initial broadcast regarding immediate weather threats to gain the listener’s attention. This feature is especially crucial when severe storms strike at night when most people are sound asleep.
• A small unit requiring little space on a nightstand or table or for travel.
• A battery back-up that ensures the receiver continues service during a loss of electricity as the warning capabilities of television or the internet will be lost.
• S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology that can be programmed to sound only select alerts for specific areas such as Franklin County. This prevents undesired messages and false alarms, especially those outside the local area.
• Customization for the hearing or visually impaired, such as strobe lights, or bed shakers, if you need it.
• The Public Alert logo (CEA-2009) which indicates that it meets certain technical standards.