Do you have your NOAA Weather Radio?!

[senorpepr]

True or False: Tornado sirens are designed to protect you and your family while inside your home.

FALSE!

Spring begins next week, and with that usually kicks off the annual severe storm season throughout the United States—particularly those within “Tornado Alley.” Many weather enthusiasts have weather radios, but how many of you reading do not have a weather radio at all? How many of you know someone who does not have a weather radio?

NOAA Weather Radios (NWR), by utilizing an alert feature, are the quickest and most effective way to alert you of potentially hazardous weather. Unfortunately, many residents relay on a tornado siren network.

Tornado sirens were designed to alert people OUTSIDE during hazardous weather. A home’s insulation reduces the volume, and thus the effectiveness, of tornado sirens. Then add the elements during severe weather such as rain, wind, hail, and thunder—all of these wash out the alarm.

The dangerous aspect about tornado sirens, as I mentioned earlier, is that they provide a false sense of security. By living relatively close to a siren, residents depend on that siren; the same siren they can hear during a calm day during a test.

Speaking of tests, often times we discuss in these forums about hurricane safety and complacency. The frequency of tornado siren tests contributes to tornado complacency. For example, look back at the May 2003 Tornado Outbreak Sequence. During the after-the-fact research, it was noted that residents in small, rural communities had grown accustomed to the sound of sirens and some disregard the sound as a tornado warning. The town of Sabetha, Kansas, was just one particular town noted for testing it’s siren system three times a day.

While I’ve been contemplating this thread for a couple of weeks now, what really spearheaded the topic was a conversation I had with my parents. They live in rural, southwestern Missouri and they frequently experience severe weather. Yesterday, they decided to go to a local severe weather seminar. They were amazed at home many community leaders of rural towns were present, asking questions about tornado sirens. A few were even surprised when it was suggested that the communities should invest their money in providing their residents with NWR rather than spend $40K+ on a tornado siren.

Now, let me shift gears. While I agree tornado sirens should be part of the network, this thread is about NWR.

With severe weather season approaching, if you or your loved ones do not have a NWR—GET ONE! NWR should be on your “must have” list next to smoke alarms and first aid kits.

NWR with alert capabilities provide much more than just tornado warnings, to include severe thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, and flood watches and warnings. Plus, it can also provide additional information such as Amber Alerts or other civil emergence messages.

Senorpepr, why get a NWR when I can get my alerts through the internet or TV?
I’m all for using local media and the internet to relay weather information, but what about while you’re asleep? Your TV won’t wake you up for a tornado warning. NWR provides alerts 24 hours a day. You’ll be alerted in a timely fashion if severe weather pops up overnight or if you’re taking a little nap on the sofa during the evening.

But Senorpepr, I have a NWR and I get annoyed with the thing sounding at all hours of the night for some event three counties away!
I absolutely agree. I was annoyed too with my NWR when it would sound for urban and small stream advisories 30 miles away at 3 in the morning. That is where the Specific Area Message Encoder (SAME) comes in handy. Having a NWR with SAME capabilities allows the user to identify what specific conditions and what specific areas it will activate.

For instance, if I’m only interested in tornado and severe thunderstorm watches/warnings for Sarpy and Cass Counties, I can program the radio to do just that. Better yet… I want only tornado warnings for Sarpy County—it’s easy.

Senorpepr, I love my NWR, but I also love my outdoor activities. How can a NWR help me?
Thankfully, now-a-days there are many options when it comes to NWR. You can find them at many retailers or on the internet—and at reasonable prices. For outdoor use, several companies manufacture portable radios that are small and lightweight. I definitely urge everyone to have a NWR nearby while at outdoor activities. A bicycle ride on the trails or a fishing trip on the lake should end in surprise and possibly tragedy—a NWR can be a helpful tool!

Before I close this post, I want to direct you to the NOAA’s brochure on NWRs at http://www.weather.gov/om/brochures/nwr_brochure.pdf

Finally, here’s a news article that was posted about a year ago from the Tampa Tribune:

A State Tornado Warning System Can't Depend On One Solution
Published: Mar 10, 2007
Tampa Tribune

Recent deadly tornadoes in Florida and across the Southeast have prompted local and state governments to consider better tornado warning systems. The temptation is for officials to look for one perfect system - but no such thing exists.

Officials need to create layers of security with multiple opportunities to alert residents. This should have been learned from the pre-dawn twisters which claimed 20 lives in Central Florida last month.

Sirens are part of the solution, and it's good to see that some communities, like Oviedo, northeast of Orlando, recently voted to install a siren system. The town's cost will be $150,000, a relatively modest amount for the capacity to warn large numbers of people at once. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates there needs to be one siren for every 3.14 square miles, so in some rural areas sirens won't be practical.

Weather radios, particularly the new ones that can send out alerts to specific areas, also are a good option. They cost at least $40 each so if government wants to rely on the radios, officials will need to make sure the poor can acquire them.

The radios are sold tax-free during the annual hurricane preparedness tax holiday, but perhaps lawmakers should consider a similar tax break leading into the Florida tornado season, which typically lasts from February to April.

Another intriguing technology is weather alerts that can be sent through cell phones. But this would only help people who have the phones and keep them charged and turned on. Reverse 911could have a role too - even though some emergency officials say it takes too long for those systems to send out alerts and there are many people who don't have home telephones anymore, only cell phones.

For every technology that exists, there's a reason why it won't work for some people. And that's why the best weather warning plan involves all these available options.

Think of building security against violent weather in the same way you build personal security. You can use more than one security measure - a lock, an alarm, a dog - to keep your house safer than relying on a single safeguard. The same should be true for public safety.

Since most Florida homes don't have basements, people should have already identified the safest area in their home to take cover - usually an interior hallway, closet or bathroom without windows - so when a warning sounds, they can take cover.

Individuals are ultimately responsible for protecting themselves. It's just like a hurricane evacuation - a warning is just a warning; it's up to you to act to protect yourself and your family.

No one warning system will reach all people all the time. What's important is that state and local governments commit to a comprehensive strategy that will give the most people possible a better chance of surviving these ferocious storms.

[southerngale]

Excellent post, senor.

I'd like to point out that you don't necessarily have to be asleep to miss an alert on TV or the internet though. I've had mine go off while simply cleaning house and listening to my Bose, etc. There are plenty of times when your TV might be off, or on a channel that wouldn't air a local warning... but your weather alert will still go off and warn you. I have S.A.M.E. on mine and I love it. It replaced one that also worked well, but without that feature and I did tire of the special marine warnings... I'm not in the Gulf of Mexico and didn't need to be woke up for warnings there. I highly recommend getting one with S.A.M.E.

[BigO]

I just bought a new one yesterday and set it up before the storms hit here in Atlanta. I set it up completely according to the instructions and entered my SAME code for Cobb County.

THe damned thing still hasn't gone off and we had two tornado warnings and a false alarm of the sirens (severe t'storm warning with rotation, but no EAS activation for the tornado until about 10 minutes later when the TW was issued).

I got rid of the last one because it couldn't be relied upon to stay in alert mode. This one is a superior Midland system (the other one was a Chinese model with a flashlight and crank power setup).

Is there anything else I should know about it that I don't already? This one is supposed to stay in alert mode 24/7.

I don't see much use in keeping it (when I could pack it back up and return it) if it isn't going to work.

[Opal storm]

I've had my NOAA radio for several years now and it still works fine. I especially turn on the alarm when there's bad weather heading my way at night so it wakes me if something happens.

[TexasStooge]

I also have a NOAA Weather Radio...even though we're between 2 outdoor sirens. It still works after almost 10 years. Eventually, I'll get a new one.

[simplykristi]

We have two Midland SAME weather radios in our home... one in the family room and the other down in my room in the basement. We also live one-half block from a siren.

Kristi

[senorpepr]

I want to post this article from one of our local TV stations. Sunday morning at 2:20am, we had a tornado run through western Omaha. This situation was a fast moving system. Many people were caught off guard as we weren't under a tornado watch. Furthermore, many were asleep and never heard the tornado sirens--which went off a few minutes after the tornado warning was issued--while after the damage was already done.



Weather Radios May Be Best Bet In Storm
Radios Alert People Indoors To Severe Weather

OMAHA, Neb. -- Weather radios may be the best way to be alerted when severe weather is threatening.

Many times on Sunday, people said they didn't hear the sirens to alert them of a tornado ripping through Millard. Paul Johnson, director of Douglas County Emergency Management, said that as far as he knows, the sirens in the county worked as they were supposed to. Johnson said two or three isolated reports that sirens did not work will be checked out.

Johnson said that outdoor weather sirens are designed to notify people who are outside, and it's likely people inside their homes and asleep may not have heard the sirens.

Gretna Fire Chief Rod Buethe said that more energy-efficient homes, and homes built closer together make it more difficult to hear sirens while indoors.

Buethe and Johnson said the best bet to learn of storms inside a home is to have a weather radio.

There are several new weather radios on the market. Many beep loudly like an alarm clock to wake you from a deep sleep. Some have special functions for the hearing impaired.

"In addition to audible alert, a strobe will start flashing next your bed if you had it designed that way," said KETV NewsWatch 7 chief meteorologist Bill Randby.

One complaint about weather radios is that some go off for all sorts of warnings, whether the storm is near you or not. The new weather radios eliminate that problem.

"The new weather radios allow you to program what counties you only want to hear warnings for," said the National Weather Service's Brian Smith. "Treat it like a smoke detector. A smoke detector protects you from fires especially at night, this protects you if there's severe weather coming your way."

Hy-Vee Stores in Omaha that carry the radios said they are sold out since the storm. Another shipment is expected on Tuesday.

[Melissa]

Yep! I have one with all surrounding counties programmed in.

[BigO]

Neither of mine will receive a signal. I am absolutely clueless as to why.

[baygirl_1]

Neither of mine will receive a signal. I am absolutely clueless as to why.

Our local NWS office website had info that helped me set up our weather radio. So, I checked out Atlanta's NWS Office website and found this info: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/html/radio.shtml Perhaps it will help you troubleshoot the problem. Also, look for local TV stations that offer help with programming weather radios. One of our stations has done that a couple of times lately. Good luck!

[snoopj]

I had one break on me due to a bad power supply in it. Regardless of having batteries in it or plugged in, it just wouldn't keep a constant stream of power to it.

Replaced it this season the one I got has been fine. It does what I need it to do and it was cheap as well. I may get a second one to put downstairs as well as my current one is in my bedroom.

--j

[BigO]

I've followed the instructions at NWS as well as the manufacturer and have my county programmed into it. The trouble seems to be in getting a signal from the NWS itself. If you can't get NOAA weather radio on the device, it doesn't do you much good to receive the alerts broadcast over it.

Apparently, I'm on the wrong side of the hill to get the signal. That's about the only rational explanation I can come up with. Fortunately, tornadoes aren't as common in NW Georgia as they are in Alabama and Mississippi.

Yeah, I know...it only takes one. Fortunately, I keep the TV on when there's a chance of an alert...which over our cable system could wake the dead. Even at night.

We had a severe thunderstorm warning last night around 3AM and the alert on the TV woke me up and treated me to a wonderful light show as the storm passed to our west. Gave me a chance to cover up the new dishwasher in the back of my truck with a tarp, even though we didn't get a drop of rain out of it.

Man, but what a show!

[tropicana]

I've got a radio that picks up the Environment Canada Weatherradio signals and transmissions. It is 24 hours, 365 days a year.

[brunota2003]

I've followed the instructions at NWS as well as the manufacturer and have my county programmed into it. The trouble seems to be in getting a signal from the NWS itself. If you can't get NOAA weather radio on the device, it doesn't do you much good to receive the alerts broadcast over it.

Apparently, I'm on the wrong side of the hill to get the signal. That's about the only rational explanation I can come up with. Fortunately, tornadoes aren't as common in NW Georgia as they are in Alabama and Mississippi.

Yeah, I know...it only takes one. Fortunately, I keep the TV on when there's a chance of an alert...which over our cable system could wake the dead. Even at night.

We had a severe thunderstorm warning last night around 3AM and the alert on the TV woke me up and treated me to a wonderful light show as the storm passed to our west. Gave me a chance to cover up the new dishwasher in the back of my truck with a tarp, even though we didn't get a drop of rain out of it.

Man, but what a show!

I've listened to my cable tv, versus my weather radio. The weather radio broadcasts the warning text, in whole, TWICE before our cable tv even goes off ONCE, it doesn't even get to the tone.

As for your problem, you can get an additional antenna for the weather radio that is built specifically for outdoor use...that might do the trick.