Winter Remains.... Yesterday we experienced a quick teaser that Spring was on it's way with unseasonably warm temperatures. Today the Northeast has a high wind warning for storm force winds. Spring doesn't officially occur until the Vernal Equinox March 20, 2011 at 11:21pm Eastern Standard Time when on the Northern Hemisphere day and night are approximately of equal length.

A lot of us are fascinated by the weather. It seems like weather is the primary topic of many conversations. Plans are made and canceled because of the weather. Yet we have no control over what mother nature has in store for us.

However, we can be prepared by owning an All Hazards NOAA Public Alert weather radio.

NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration part of the US Department of Commerce. NOAA weather Radio broadcasts (NWR) is a national network of radio stations that continuously broadcast weather and emergency information including all types of hazards including chemical releases, oil spills, Amber and Silver alerts, tornadoes, hurricanes, heavy rains, snow, ice, flooding, etc. 7 days a week 24 hours a day. A NOAA public alert radio has the ability to reach over 95% of the US population with 1000 transmitters which make available broadcasts to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the US Pacific Territories. A special NOAA radio receiver is necessary to have access to these transmissions. Messages broadcast may be life saving. A NOAA Public Alert Radio should be among your emergency preparedness items.

Be Safe Plus LLC advocates being prepared for the unexpected and among others carries a variety of NOAA weather radios with battery backup systems. Be among the first to know about a weather or hazardous situation. Be Safe.

Previously we provided information on what weather radios are and their purpose. This article pertains to how weather radios work. Once you have selected a radio that fits your needs, you need to learn how it works. Most radios have a power cord that you can plug into the wall to operate the radio. They all have or should have battery backup in the event of a power failure or if it is a portable radio that you can carry with you. These radios broadcast weather information on seven channels or frequencies throughout the US. By reviewing the FIPS codes you can find the closest tower that transmits in your area. Afer you find that frequency you should hear a continuous broadcast for your area. If the radio has S.A.M.E. technology as we discussed in the previous article (and it should) you need to program it. You can program your county, several adjacent counties, or all counties in the coverage area. The instruction book along with the FIPS codes will allow you to do this.

In the event of an emergency in the county or counties you have programmed the radio will sound an alert tone followed by the weather watch or warning along with pertinent information concerning actions that you should take at the time of the alert.

Watches and warnings are broadcast based on weather conditions in your area that may be worth watching or paying attention to, or by taking emergency shelter in the event of a warning. Many watches are based on radar conditions and weather forecasts that the local NWS office is monitoring. In the event of a warning (tornado, flash flood, or severe thunderstorm) the information may be obtained by what the forecaster sees on doppler radar or live reports from trained weather spotters or local emergency personnel. If the the NWS issues some type of watch for your area you should be aware that conditions are possible for that type of weather. If they issue a warning you should follow the instructions the forecaster gives via the weather radio which may involve taking shelter immediately in the event of a tornado or move to a safer location in the event of flooding. More people are killed in the US by floods that any other weather event. These watches and warnings should be taken seriously and you should have a plan for immediate action in the event of a warning.

The next article will contain information about weather radios that are available, their cost and their functions. Weather radios may be purchased at most store and advanced radios may be purchased on Ebay or via the internet at various site such as www.btproducts.us

There are many different advantages associated with emergency weather radios. Regardless of where you live, or the emergency conditions that you may be subjected to, weather radios have the capability of providing you with the detailed information that you need in order to preparing for situations that could potentially endanger the health and safety of yourself, as well as your loved ones. Many individuals that have experienced severe weather conditions in their area such as tornadoes and hurricanes have successfully made it through such dangers by adhering to the alerts issued on weather emergency radios. Throughout this guide, you will learn important details pertaining to weather radios.

An emergency weather radio uses the nationwide network of a variety of radio based stations known as "NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards" or "NWR". When you incorporate a weather radio into your home, the broadcasts that you receive will come from an office that is in near proximity to your area. The office is a branch from the National Weather Service. This service offers warnings, various types of watches, an assortment of forecasts, and other types of information that directly pertain to potential hazards that could directly impact yourself and your loved ones. This information is offered twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Many individuals enjoy the benefit of receiving detailed weather information at any time of the day.

Many individuals believe that weather emergency radios only offer information pertaining to weather hazards. This is the number one reason why many fail to purchase weather emergency radios. These individuals typically live in an area where the weather is fair and they believe that if an arises they will be able to acquire the information that they need through other means such as a television news broadcasts or a standard radio. However, weather radios provide in depth information around the clock on more than just weather emergencies. They also provide information on natural disasters, chemical related emergencies, and other types of public emergencies.

There are many different types of emergency weather radios available on the market today. In order to choose one, you must consider your lifestyle, your budget, and your overall needs as they pertain to protecting yourself and your loved ones. If you travel a lot, for example, you may benefit from emergency weather radios that are portable in nature. If you live in areas that are known to experience severe weather such as Florida, you may benefit from a radio that has a large number of functions and alert features. If you are on a limited budget, you will likely benefit from radios that simply turn on and off and run broadcasts accordingly. There are many different models and features in emergency radios that will benefit you in numerous ways. Taking the steps to prepare for an emergency situation is essential to surviving such a situation. By evaluating and choosing among the many weather emergency radios on the market today, you will increase your chance of survival.