By Gail Marsh
Would you drive your RV through flood waters? Or let your children swim as lightning strikes? Of course not! But that assumes you are alerted to flood conditions or the potential for lightning in your area. When storms threaten, it’s important for campers to know about them. Whether in a tent or inside an RV, being forewarned enables us to take precautions to stay safe.
One essential that campers need to pack each and every time they venture out is a weather radio. Tornadoes, flash floods, avalanches, and other natural or man-made disasters can occur any time in any place. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA radio can often mean the difference between life and death.
What is the NOAA Weather Radio system?
The NOAA Weather Radio system is comprised of a group of VHF FM radio stations. They broadcast over the frequencies 162.400 MHz to 162.550 MHz to radios with a VHF-capable receiver. NOAA radio stations are based throughout the United States and their signal is transmitted over 1,000 antennae located in the U.S. and its territories. No matter where you travel in the United States you can receive radio transmissions from NOAA. (Canada has a similar system operated by Environment Canada. It uses the same radio frequencies as NOAA.)
Where does the weather signal originate?
The National Weather Station in your current location will broadcast necessary information to NOAA so you can be sure the information is accurate and current for your area.
NOAA also collaborates with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to transmit information relating to non-weather emergencies, like electrical outages and AMBER alerts for your location.
What does a NOAA radio cost?
Dependable NOAA radios range in price from less than $20 to more than $100 and can be purchased online or in most sporting goods stores.
What kind should I buy?
Most recommended is a hand-cranked weather radio. Some models feature a backup battery option as well. Take the time to investigate all of the “extras” available on some NOAA radio models. Some have helpful features like a flashlight, strobe warning lights, and cell phone charging capabilities. Purchase the weather radio that best fits your needs and budget. There are lots to choose from.
Note: This is the one the RVtravel.com staff uses and highly recommends! It’s a radio and flashlight, and it will charge your phone with its built-in power bank. It’s a good one to have in case of emergencies.
Where should I keep my NOAA radio?
Do not “store” your radio thinking you’ll grab it when you need it. As you arrive at the campsite, your radio should be one of the first things you put into place. Make sure everyone in your group knows the radio’s location and how to operate it.
##RVT1131
Thank you Gail. That’s something I never gave much thought to, but am ordering the one recommended in this piece. As an aside: it never ceases to amaze me what we have access to. The radio recommended is solar powered, crank powered, can charge a phone and has a flashlight. All for $24.
Amazing, right? Safe travels!
Thank you, Gail! Yes, great idea. One of my running buddies gave me a weather radio so I could always (?) dress properly for the weather when going for a run. That was forty years ago and it still works. Thankfully, the battery has never leaked inside it. 🙂
We’ve always hand one and it’s always within arm’s reach. And now we also have a weather alert app on our phones to keep us up to date on the weather wherever we are traveling.
I’m puzzled as to why I would buy a “weather radio” when I have the free Weather Channel app on my IPhone.
Oh wait… not everyone wants to own, or can afford, a $900 smart phone!
We were camping during the Valleyview tornado last May in Texas. Everyone in our campground loop were in both the men and women’s bath houses. There were 40 people and 15 dogs in our bath house. Not one cell phone worked! Nothing. Fortunately, one couple had their emergency NOAA radio with them and kept it on with the volume turned up all the way so we all could hear. Without it we would have gone outside after the first tornado passed and would not have known about the second tornado that followed behind it. We have an emergency radio now. We have also been places where there is no cell signal at all. Don’t depend on your cell phone. Get an emergency radio for your safety!
Sounds great, except NOAA was gutted by Trump and there are no broadcasts any longer, or if there are any they will stop shortly.
I guess it remains to be seen if our weather radio will be as valuable and accurate safety device as it was in the past. Accuracy, timeliness, and the availability and ability to interpret data are critical.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/noaa-national-weather-service-job-cuts-forecast-climate-change-natural-disasters/
Just get a good battery powered radio. Those crank ones generally are poor quality and soon you’ll be cranking often to use it.
Added radio to cart~ another BD gift for dear hubby!
Thank you, Gail, for the admonishment that every RV should have a weather radio. Ours was given to me by a running friend 40, or 45 years ago, so I knew the outside temperature and could dress properly for my next run. It is powered by a 9-volt battery and we always travel with it. Have a great week and safe travels!