From: Tom Priddy, UK Ag. Weather
Center
Listed below are answers to frequently asked questions concerning NOAA
"All Hazards" Weather Radios, including which
weather radios were used in public buildings on the UK campus for the StormReady project, cost and where they can be purchased.
These FAQ's cover:
What is NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)
Who Needs NWR?
What is S.A.M.E....!
S.A.M.E. All-Hazard Weather Radios to Fit Different Needs
Weather Radios used for the UK campus StormReady
project
Where can you purchase weather radios
Where you can get your county codes to enter into your S.A.M.E. weather radio
Special-Needs people
Who to contact for more info
What is NOAA Weather Radio (NWR):
NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting
continuous weather information direct
from a nearby National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts National Weather
Service warnings, watches, forecasts and
other hazard information 24 hours a day.
NWR is an "all hazards" radio network, making it your single source
for comprehensive weather and emergency information.
NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of
hazards--both natural (such as earthquakes and
volcano activity) and environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills).
Who Needs NWR?
Public safety experts agree: the receivers should be standard equipment in
every home. They are especially valuable in
places that are entrusted with public safety, including hospitals, schools,
places of worship, nursing homes,
restaurants, grocery stores, recreation centers, office buildings, sports
facilities, theaters, retail stores, bus
and train stations, airports, marinas and other public-gathering places.
What is S.A.M.E....!
With new digital technology (called Specific Area Message Encoding..hence S.A.M.E.), life-saving messages broadcast on
NWR will now be targeted to a specific area, such as a county or portion of a
state, to bring more hazard-specific
information to the listening area. New digital technology provides automated
broadcast capability for more timely
service. In other words, if you enter your county code into your weather
radio...you only receive weather alerts
such as weather watches and warnings for your county.
In other words, the new weather radios with S.A.M.E. technology
doesn't "cry wolf." If you've entered your county code and the alert
sounds...the alert is for your county.
It could be an AMBER alert, an emergency management message or a
severe weather alert for your county.
S.A.M.E. All-Hazard Weather Radios to
Fit Different Needs:
Weather radios come in many sizes and with a variety of functions and costs.
Many of the radios sound a tone alarm
and/or turn on the audio when severe weather announcements or emergency
information are broadcast. To make use of the new
digital coding technology, more sophisticated weather radio receivers will be
required. Most NWR receivers are either
battery-operated portables or AC-powered desktop models with battery backup.
Some CB radios, scanners, short wave and
AM/FM radios are capable of receiving NWR transmissions.
Weather Radios used for the
I don't usually recommend a specific brand of weather radio to clientele. I do
tell them to make sure it has S.A.M.E.
capability, and battery back-up. For county extension offices...I can tell you
the brand and model of weather radio
we use on campus. We tested four different weather radios on campus. We
purchased over 150 Midland WR #100 weather radios
and they work good in most buildings. They cost around
$ 50.00 each. There are nearly 20 buildings where the Midland WR #100's
didn't receive the signal strong enough to rely on them. So, we upgraded to the
Midland WR # 300 at $ 69.95 each for those
building. In all cases, the Midland WR # 300 work in
the problem-buildings.
So...of all the brands we tested...the
One final comment concerning quality of weather radios...brands that were NOT
tested: First Alert or Reecom.
I have heard they are good weather radios...but I have not personally tested
them.
Where can you purchase weather radios:
Weather radios can be purchased from just about any discount or electronic store.
But not all of them are S.A.M.E. weather radios OR
weather radios. Check with your local Walmart and
Radio Shack for S.A.M.E. weather radios or more specifically...Midland WR # 100
or #300 weather radios.
OR, check online at these web sites:
http://www.weatherradiostore.com
http://www.radioshack.com
http://www.ambientweather.com/noaaradio.html
http://www.weatherradio.com
Note: If you do a "search" on the internet for "weather
radio" you can find the Midland WR #300 for as low as $53.00 plus
shipping.
Where you can get your county codes to
enter into your S.A.M.E. weather radio:
All county FIPS codes for
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ky/nwrky.htm
All county FIPS codes for all states are available at:
http://www.nws...noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm#sametable
Special-Needs people:
Many people have special needs relative to seeing and hearing. Many weather
radios can be used with a special strobe light which connects
to the weather radio...or a device that will shake a pillow when a weather
alert is sounded. Special needs info is available at:
http://weather.gov/nwr/special_need.htm
Strobe lights are available at:
http://www.weatherradiostore.com/category.asp?cat=3
Who to contact for more info:
Contact Tom Priddy if you have further questions
concerning weather radios, at priddy@uky.edu
phone 859-257-3000 ext 245
or go to:
http://weather.gov/nwr/geninfo.htm