NOAA Weather Radios - get one, if you don't already have one!

[UrbScotty]

As we have been hearing about severe weather lately, I would like to recommend something to each of you who live in the US. (This may also be available in Canada, though I'm not sure.)

NOAA Weather Radios are radios with their own frequency levels that give current conditions and forecasts. But, the real kicker is that they have alarms that go off when a severe weather alert (such as a flood warning or tornado watch) is issued. So you can keep it on overnight and if a tornado warning is issued, for example, you will be able to take shelter.

My NOAA Weather Radio went off at least seven or eight times this past weekend.

They suggest that these weather radios become as popular as smoke detectors. You can get one for about $10 or $15.

[4dsc]

1. Our local news has been going nuts lately

with all the possible tornado's and flood warning here in central Iowa.. I would say we had a couple of solid hours of nothing but weather and warnings..

[7th_Sephiroth]

2. where can i get one

i live in an area frequented by hurricanes

[Deb]

5. Radio Shack

is where we bought ours.

[TheWizardOfMudd]

8. Radio Shack

I got one from Radio Shack years ago that automatically turns itself on when there is a NOAA alert. Cool!

[UrbScotty]

12. Yeah, mine as well. (nt)

[Whitacre D_WI]

3. Mine keeps waking me up with flood warnings 2 counties away to the NE.

[lcooksey]

9. Get a weather radio with SAME

Newer radios have a feature called SAME -- Specific Area Message Encoding. The National Weather Service has information at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm.

It works by transmitting one or more county codes with each alert. You program in your home county, and maybe a couple of adjoining counties if you want, then your alarm only goes off for things that affect you.

Buy.com has SAME radios for $22 and up. The cheapest model is http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90105985&loc=111&sp=1. Radio Shack has a couple of models, but you can probably find cheaper ones at Best Buy or maybe even Target.

[Whitacre D_WI]

11. This one has SAME.

Coverage in this area is a bit iffy.

Okay, okay. The "flash flood" bit was hyperbole. But a severe thunderstorm a couple counties East still wakes me up.

[NightTrain]

4. I got mine at Big Lots for $10.

And let me tell you: in Connecticut both yesterday and today, that little radio came in awfully handy!

[Renew Deal]

6. Here's a website.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrrcvr.htm

[Divernan]

7. My car radio has AM, FM and Weather Band(NOAA)

It has been priceless in all kinds of bad weather when I'm driving on highways/turnpikes/beltways. This is factory installed on my 2001 Saab 900 (136,000 miles and goin' strong).

[Champ]

10. I would

But we almost never have severe weather, severe heat but that's about it. All the years I lived here no tornado, no hurricane, no earthquakes, floods, blizzards, etc.