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SAFETY SALLY SAYS,
How do I use a NOAA Weather Radio for
emergency alerts?
NOAA Weather Radios give current
weather forecasts and conditions and provide all-hazard
warnings.
Getting the radio
Radios can cost $40 to over
$100, depending on features. NOAA recommends the
following features:
-
Public Alert logo, which
means the radio meets key specific technical standards
and comes with all the following features.
-
Warning alarm (behaves like
a smoke detector)
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SAME (Specific Area Message
Encoding) programs your radio to activate the alarm only
for your area.
-
Event Selection lets you
choose which warnings you want to receive from the
Emergency Alert System.
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External antenna jack for
enhanced reliable reception
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Ability to receive the
weekly and monthly tests.
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Battery backup
Setting up the radio
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Program the frequency and
SAME code according to the directions.
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For the frequency, NOAA
told us that Sumner is served by two NOAA Weather
Radio stations - Seattle at 162.55 MHz and Olympia
at 162.475 MHz.
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The SAME code for Pierce
County is 053053. You can check the codes for
other counties at
http://www.wsab.org/eas/eas_tab18.þ
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Put the radio on a window
sill where you're most likely to hear it and facing the
direction of the weather radio transmitter chosen (north
for Seattle's frequency, south for Olympia's).
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If your reception is poor,
you may need an external antenna.
-
There is a weekly test on
Wednesdays between 11 am and 2 pm. If you don't
hear it, you may need to reposition or add the external
antenna.
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External alarm jacks are
available for such accessories as a strobe light and
pillow shaker for the hearing and/or sight impaired.
More Information
I received this information from
NOAA and the National Weather Service. If you'd like
to check with them directly for more details, here are some
ways to contact them:
National Weather Service
Seattle/Tacoma
7600 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle,
WA 98115-6349
Å
206-526-6087
þ
www.weather.gov/seattle
National Weather Service
þ
www.weather.gov/nwr/
Washington Military
Department Division of Emergency Management
þ
www.emd.wa.gov
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