Severe Weather Preparedness 101, Part 3- NOAA weather radios

Severe Weather Preparedness 101, Part 3- NOAA weather radios


NOAA (pronounced Noah) is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, they are who oversees the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). All three of these are great resources for loads of education and information about weather and climate as a whole. 


They, along with the FCC and FEMA are responsible for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) that broadcasts severe weather alerts to your TV and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) that get sent to your cell phone. 


NOAA is also responsible for the weather radio, which is a very important tool. You’ve probably heard people talk about weather radios a lot. Well, that’s because they are just that important. 

A weather radio will alert you to any warnings in your area. There are multiple different options to choose from and you can buy one just about anywhere that sells electronics. They range in price from about $25 on up. You don’t have to get anything fancy, you just need to make sure that it works with NOAA channels. (It’ll have the NOAA logo pictured below)





Here’s a link to where to find your local NOAA channel. (Use what you learned in part 1 to figure out which one is closest to you.)


https://www.weather.gov/nwr/Maps


I also wanted to include some links where you could buy a weather radio and a brief description of each one. These are Amazon affiliate links meaning that I will make a small amount portion of any sales that are generated through these links. This is at no extra cost to you and is a great way to support my page. Any money earned through these links will be invested in improving my page. 


Midland - ER310

https://amzn.to/4aTmkU0





The Midland ER310 has an AM/FM radio, a flashlight with an SOS function, an ultrasonic dog whistle, and its own internal battery which can be charged through the solar panel on top, with the hand crank on the side, or with any micro USB cable. This radio can also be powered using 6 AA batteries. This weather radio can also charge a mobile phone in the event of a power outage. The portability of this weather radio makes it a great choice for those who travel or those whose job requires a lot of driving.
This weather radio's flashlight will flash when it is going off as an additional alert, making it a great choice for those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Midland - ER210





The Midland ER210 is the weather radio I personally own. It is very similar to the ER310. It has an AM/FM radio, a flashlight with an SOS function, and its own internal battery. It can be charged through a solar panel, a hand crank, or a micro USB cable. It can also charge a mobile phone.  
This weather radio's flashlight will flash when it is going off as an additional alert. 
The differences between the ER310 and the ER210 are that the ER210 does not have a dog whistle, it does not have the option to use AA batteries as a backup, and the internal battery is not as strong as the ER310. 
This weather radio is still a great option for those who are traveling, those who drive a lot for work, and those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. 

Midland ER40







The ER40 again is very similar to the ER310 and ER 210, having AM/FM radio, a flashlight with an SOS function, a rechargeable battery that can be charged with a micro USB cable, the solar panel, or the hand crank, and the ability to charge a phone. The difference between this and the ER210 is the internal battery in this one is not as powerful as the ER210. 
This weather radio would still be a great option for those who are traveling, those who drive a lot for work, and those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. 

Midland - ER10VP





The ER10VP is another option that is similar to the previous options. However, this option does not include the ability to recharge an internal battery, instead, it relies on 3 AA batteries and this weather radio includes some in the box for you to get started right out of the box. 
Like the previously mentioned weather radios, this radio includes AM/FM radio and a flashlight with an SOS feature. 
This weather radio is only $24.99 (at the time of writing this) making it one of the more affordable weather radio options on the market. 
This weather radio is pocket-sized making it a great option for those who are traveling, those who drive a lot for work, or those who'd like to stay informed no matter where they are. 

Midland - WR120B





The WR120B is significantly different from the previously mentioned weather radios and is what most people picture when they think of weather radios. This weather radio is a very popular choice. 
The WR120B allows you to program it to alert you for up to 25 different counties and will alert you for more than 60 different hazards and emergencies. It also includes a colored display to easily tell what kind of alert it is giving you (watch, warning, or advisory).
This weather Radio is powered by an A/C wall plug but has the option to use 3 AA batteries for backup in the event of a power outage.
This is a great option for those who might want to monitor several different locations or someone who wants early warning by listening to the counties surrounding them.
Due to the customizable nature of this weather radio, it is a little more complex to set up than the previously mentioned weather radios. 

Midland Pillow Shaker





This last item is not a weather radio, but an add-on item that can be used with Midland brand weather radios to make them more accessible to those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, or people who are just hard sleepers. 
This device will plug into the headphone jack of a weather radio, and then vibrate when the radio goes off adding a physical element to the alerts. 

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