The first series of these articles is intended to provide an understanding of what weather radios do. Essentially they are designed to give you information (watches and warnings) concerning the weather. However updated technology has allowed them to provide information such as hurricane warnings, terrorists alerts, and amber alerts (missing and kidnapped children and adults). The main purpose of a weather radio is to issue watches, warnings and special weather statements issued by the National Weather Service(NWS). The National Weather Service is the only agency that may issue watches and warnings. While we see these on local television or hear them on local radio stations they are issued by the NWS. Local TV stations cannot issue these warnings.
The system is set up with various weather service locations strategically stationed throughout the United States. They operate on seven frequencies. This is primarily so that practically everyone can receive the NWS on one of these frequencies virtually anywhere in the U.S. Each frequency or channel constantly broadcasts a forecast for that service area. However, in times of severe weather the station broadcasts an alert tone followed by pertinent information concerning existing weather conditions whether it be a tornado watch or warning or flash flood warning with actions to be taken by the public. These broadcasts may be heard on GMRS or two way radios, scanners, marine radios, or specially designed weather radios. The NWS has S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding) that allows these alerts only to be heard in designated areas. You do not have to listen to alerts for all areas of your local service coverage area. This is accomplished by a series of FIPS codes (Federal Information Processing Standards) that assigns every state and county a specific code to program into their weather radio to receive alerts for their county and/or surrounding counties or all counties in the service area. These codes can be found on the internet or a link at the National Weather Service, or at www.btproducts.us or by performing an internet search for FIPS codes.
In summary weather radios provide a multitude of information from your local forecast to special warnings and alerts to protect you and your property from impending weather emergencies and natural disasters. It is very important to have access to this information during power outages, during the night, or during outdoor activities away from home. More information is provided at the National Weather Service webpage and on many other websites. The next article will provide information on how the weather alert system works followed by an article on picking a weather radio or finding a source for this information that meets each individuals needs.
Paul Thompson is an advanced weather spotter for the National Weather Service and a member of Traid Skywarn in North Carolina. He is a weather enthusiast and has a background in emergency services. Paul is an amateur radio operator (K4PDT) and provides emergency weather safety and communications supplies at http://www.btproducts.us.
Source: www.articlecity.com
