| Operated by the National Weather Service, an | | | | safety. |
| agency of the NOAA (National Oceanic | | | | S - Statements - This is a further message being |
| Atmospheric Administration), continuous weather | | | | a follow up to an emergency, watch, or warning |
| information is broadcast directly from local | | | | broadcast already made. |
| Weather Service Offices within the United States | | | | Other important codes include: TOR / tornado, |
| 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The | | | | SVR / severe thunderstorm warning, EVI / |
| broadcasts give forecasts, weather warnings and | | | | evacuation immediate. |
| other hazard information via weather alert radios | | | | There are also important features that you should |
| tuned to the VHF public service band that is found | | | | try to have included in the model that you |
| at certain frequencies (MHz). These broadcasts | | | | purchase. A feature that is recommended by the |
| cannot be picked up on a normal AM/FM radio | | | | experts is the Specific Area Message Encoding, |
| receiver. You therefore need a special receiver, a | | | | also known as SAME. The Products that comply |
| weather alert radio, every home should have one | | | | with the Public Alert Standards will have this |
| in areas where there is always a likelihood of | | | | included. Looking for the Public Alert logo is an |
| severe weather. | | | | easy way to determine if the product supports |
| There are some important things that you should | | | | SAME. This feature enables you to programme |
| know about emergency alert radios. Obviously it is | | | | the weather alert radio for specific geographical |
| of utmost importance that once you have your | | | | concern or interest rather than the entire regional |
| weather alert radio you quickly become familiar | | | | broadcast area ensuring that you receive alerts |
| with the codes that are used in the broadcasts. | | | | that are appropriate for your area. |
| W - Warnings - This is an event that poses a | | | | The radio automatically turns on when it receives |
| profound threat to public safety and property. | | | | this code. First you will hear the alarm and then |
| There is a high probability of an occurrence in that | | | | the broadcasted message. One of the greatest |
| location and the threat will have a fairly short | | | | benefits that SAME offers to the consumer is |
| period of onset. | | | | that you minimize the amount of false alarms that |
| A - Watches - A watch meets the classifications | | | | you receive. Some models allow you to program |
| of a warning. Only with a watch one of the | | | | what type of alerts that you don't want to |
| following is undetermined: onset time, location, or | | | | receive.Those who live in high lying areas for |
| likelihood of occurrence. | | | | instance may not want to be bothered with a |
| E - Emergencies - When there is an emergency | | | | flood watch. This may be a feature that you |
| the event itself is unlikely to kill, injure, or inflict | | | | want to ensure is available before purchase so |
| property damage. However, the event may | | | | that you aren't being awakened in the middle of |
| indirectly cause another occurrence that could | | | | the night for an alert that doesn't really have to |
| cause a hazard. An example of this is the | | | | much effect on you or those you love. Before |
| telephone or power in a large city is out. The | | | | purchasing an emergency weather radio, do your |
| event alone isn't a hazard. It could however cause | | | | research. You need to make sure that you get |
| a disruption in other critical services that could | | | | one with any features that are the most |
| result in conditions that pose a direct threat to | | | | important to you. |