NOAA Radios

Where Can I Purchase a Radio?

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios are available through local electronics stores as well as from a large number of sources on the internet.

What is it?

A NOAA all-hazards radio receives broadcasts exclusively from the National Weather Service. The radio can provide rapid warning, directly from the source, when hazardous weather conditions pose a threat to life and property. It is also an all-hazards warning system, used not only for immediate flood or tornado-related events but also for hazardous material releases or other localized hazards.

The radio receivers behave like smoke detectors, silently monitoring and then alerting people to the initial warning message immediately upon receipt, providing more time to respond to the event.

Why Purchase a Radio?

Can you always hear the sirens when they are sounded? Indoors? At night, with the windows closed and the air conditioner on? Is the siren loud enough to wake you up when you are sleeping? Is your home within the effective range of a siren?

• A NOAA all-hazards radio, on the other hand, is designed to be an indoor warning device. It is always on, and it will wake you up if you are sleeping.
• Likewise, local television and radio are a great way to receive up-to-date warning information, but it works only if your radio or TV is on and tuned to the right station. Again, what about at night when you are sleeping? Or when you happen to be watching a cable or satellite channel that does not carry the local warning information. In those cases, you are very likely to miss the warning.

Do you have a smoke detector? Of course - it alerts you when it detects smoke. An all-hazards radio will alert you to many other immediate, life-threatening hazards in your area, like tornadoes, floods and other dangerous events. Without this device, you could miss a critical warning message that could save your life and those in your family.