| The high number and severity of the hurricanes | | | | room in your house, to work, or in the car. Some |
| this season has brought about a new level of | | | | radios allow you to select your state and county, |
| awareness to severe weather safety. One of the | | | | thereby setting your regional channel. A few even |
| essential items in severe weather safety is the | | | | come with graphical LCD displays, capable of |
| weather radio. Although the radio can be used at | | | | showing thousands of US county maps. |
| any time, it is most important when electricity is | | | | There are dozens of weather radios currently on |
| not available and severe weather is approaching. | | | | the market. One of the newest ones, the |
| During storms, it is quite common for power to | | | | handheld WR102 portable NOAA weather radio is |
| be cut off for any length of time. It is important | | | | a popular choice. This device resembles a modern |
| to know where the storm is, how severe it is, | | | | walkie-talkie - small and lightweight with a simple |
| and where it is headed. The weather radio can | | | | display. The radio can be placed into a pocket and |
| provide this information, allowing you and your | | | | easily taken camping or to ball games. |
| family to seek shelter and take the precautions | | | | Another popular weather radio is the Graphical |
| necessary to survive a severe storm. | | | | Interface Emergency Radio with LCD display. The |
| Weather radios are unique from regular radios in | | | | device looks a lot like a small GPS, with a detailed, |
| many important ways. First, weather radios are | | | | monochrome map showing your location and the |
| designed to receive NOAA weather signals 24 | | | | warnings currently posted for the area. The |
| hours a day that provide current weather | | | | device will warn you about a vareity of disasters |
| conditions in your area. This information is crucial | | | | including tornadoes, thunderstorms, hurricanes, |
| as allows you the time to seek shelter if a storm | | | | flash floods, mudslides, nuclear radiation hazards, |
| is approaching. The weather radio is also often | | | | chemical releases or oil spills, and even homeland |
| smaller and lighter than most other radios, which | | | | defense alerts. |
| allows it to be easily carried around from room to | | | | |