Weather Radios

All-hazard emergency weather radios provide continuous, useful weather information. They broadcast warnings, expected weather conditions, and post information following natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. During a weather, natural or man-made emergency, the National Weather Service will interrupt routine weather programming and broadcast a special tone that activates weather radios, by county, in the covered areas. The emergency tone is automatic and will be sounded on the radio at any time an emergency may be likely or is imminent.

The hearing and visually impaired also can get these warnings by connecting weather radios with alarm tones to other kinds of attention-getting devices like strobe lights, pagers, bed-shakers, personal computers and text printers.

Weather Radios should be a must-have for every home and business. They can be found in many places such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, grocery stores, airports, recreation centers, places of worship, office buildings and other public-gathering places. If it is important to have NOAA weather radios in those places, it should be just as important to have them in the home. Weather Radios are one of several ways to receive weather information. Douglas County Emergency Management recommends everyone have more than one way to receive vital weather information.

NOAA weather radios save lives, and they can keep your family safe. By having a weather radio, you can be safe by preparing for expected weather conditions.

Being warned of approaching storms so you and your family can seek shelter before the storm arrives:

With a battery backup, you can take your radio anywhere:

• Sports outings
• Picnics
• Camping & boating
• Storm Shelter

The Midland Model 74200 all-hazard emergency radio was reviewed and recommended by Project Community Alert. Its features include:

• Digital Weather / All-Hazard Alert Monitor w/LCD Display
• SAME (Specific Area Message Encoder) pinpoints alerts for your area, reducing false alarms
• Digital Front Message Display with 56 types of watches and warnings for tornados, floods, etc.
• Alert status lights indicate statements, watches and warnings
• Monitor up to 15 user selectable areas for complete protection
• Selectable alert indicators (90 dB warning tone, voice alert or flashing LED)
• Built-in alarm clock and capacity to easily add optional accessories such as antenna or strobe light
• Operates on AC power or 3 AA batteries

Did you know that there are radio stations that broadcast current weather and its conditions 24 hours a day? Did you know that you can tune into these stations from almost anywhere across the nation with the help of a NOAA Weather Radio?

Weather radios broadcast warnings, expected weather conditions, and post information following natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, tropical storms and hurricanes, heavy winds, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. NOAA weather radios are equipped with different sound capabilities. There are distinctive tone alarms that alert the listeners to severe weather conditions. Those alarms are only available in weather radios.

The hearing and visually impaired can also get these warnings by connecting weather radios with alarm tones to other kinds of attention-getting devices like strobe lights, pagers, bed-shakers, personal computers and text printers.

Most newer model All Hazard Radios can be programmed to monitor and alert for up to 15 counties. A programming guide for the weather radio is linked at the bottom of this page. 

After programming your weather radio, be sure to check it! Ensure that the voice is clear and easy to understand. If it is not, here are some troubleshooting tips!

Troubleshooting Tips for a Weak Signal:

• Try changing the frequency
• Try changing the location of the weather radio
• Heights, locations, etc. can be a factor in getting a weak or strong signal
• Try an external antenna for your home or business