| > | | | | before they arrive on land and families generally |
| An everyday AM/FM battery powered radio may | | | | have time to prepare or leave an area in the path |
| not be enough to keep your family safe. Once | | | | of the storm. In this case you may determine |
| you understand the difference between a radio | | | | that a weather alert feature isn’t as |
| and an emergency radio you will understand how | | | | important and decide to settle for a radio that will |
| the difference can be critical to your | | | | keep you connected to the weather channels or |
| family’s safety. An everyday AM/FM | | | | local broadcasts when you choose to be |
| battery powered radio may not be enough to | | | | updated. Severe storms and thunderstorms, |
| keep your family safe. Once you understand the | | | | although they can be dangerous to life and |
| difference between a radio and an emergency | | | | property, do not equal the urgency of a |
| radio you will understand how the difference can | | | | tornado. However, if you are camping with |
| be critical to your family’s safety. FEMA | | | | family or friends you may feel that having a radio |
| (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has | | | | with NOAA Weather Alert is important so you |
| recommended an emergency preparedness kit | | | | can be informed of severe weather, flash |
| including important items that families should have | | | | flooding, or subsequent dangers in your remote |
| in the event of an emergency. First and second | | | | location. |
| on the list is water and food, obviously. The | | | | Tornados and hurricanes are two of the most |
| third item on the list is an emergency radio. | | | | severe of weather emergencies, but these are |
| FEMA’s definition of emergency radios is a | | | | not the only things you may need to prepare |
| "battery-powered or hand crank radio," as well as, | | | | for. Emergency guides suggest that we should |
| "an NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert." | | | | be prepared to survive on our own for a |
| Fortunately, radios are now available with all the | | | | minimum of three days following an emergency. |
| necessary emergency features on one receiver. | | | | So we must, at a minimum, have the capability of |
| Using FEMA’s definition and | | | | receiving local news and weather during this |
| recommendations, let’s examine what | | | | period. In addition to weather emergencies we |
| type of emergencies you might be subject to and | | | | must also prepare for a local power outage. |
| just what kind of radio you should have in order | | | | Power outages can be caused by a storm that |
| to be safe. If you live in an area where you | | | | went through, the flood that follows, or a minor |
| could experience sudden dangers, as with the | | | | earthquake that has managed to not only |
| central United States known as tornado alley, | | | | knock-out power, but may have also disrupted |
| then you need a radio that will provide instant | | | | emergency services. These are all common |
| information as soon as the National Weather | | | | events. With electricity out, the radio’s |
| Service broadcasts a warning. You will need a | | | | power source becomes critical. Many radios |
| radio that provides S.A.M.E. (Specific Area | | | | have numerous sources of power including not |
| Message Encoding) technology which can be | | | | only replaceable batteries and AC adaptors, but |
| programmed to receive emergency weather | | | | hand cranks for recharging batteries and even |
| broadcasts in your specific area, as well as, NOAA | | | | solar panels. Some radios go even further and |
| weather information with a Weather Alert | | | | have the capability of powering other items, such |
| feature. Both of these features on a radio will | | | | as your cell phone. |
| automatically turn the radio on, send an alarm | | | | So what kind of radio do you need for survival in |
| through the radio, and provide you with important | | | | an emergency? Knowing what the potential |
| information you need to have immediately. | | | | emergencies are in your area will enable you to |
| Coastal Communities also have an essential need | | | | find a radio equipped with the required features |
| for the right type of emergency radio. | | | | needed to insure your family’s safety and |
| Hurricanes are tracked for a number of days | | | | survival. Are you prepared? |