Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Mississippi and Louisiana
Severe Weather Awareness Week

February 24 - March 1, 2008

The National Weather Service (NWS) has made this week, February 25th - March1, Severe Weather Awareness Week across the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.  This week is used to focus on certain aspects of severe weather to educate the public. 

Today we will focus on the NOAA Weather Radio:

What is a NOAA Weather Radio? 
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA Weather Radio is the official voice of the NWS.  The NWS broadcasts a continuous series of useful weather information to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Whether you are at home, work, on the road, at school or even boating, you can get access to this information through a weather radio. 

Why should you own a NOAA Weather Radio?
The simple answer is because it can SAVE your life!  In times of hazardous or severe weather, the weather radio can be set to go off an alert you to approaching storms.  In my opinion, if every house needs to have a smoke detector, then why not have a NOAA Weather Radio?  Both of them can save your life! 

What is heard on the NOAA Weather Radio?
The NOAA Weather Radio us a very useful way to get the following information:

• The latest weather statements, Weather Watches, and Weather Warnings
• Location of storms, movement, important details on the storm, and what to do if it hits you
• Your local forecast both short term, and extended
• Marine and boating forecasts
• Climate Data
• Tropical Weather Information
• Also you can get important info on Civil Emergencies, Amber Alerts, and Homeland Security Information

How Does it Work?
Once you have a NOAA Weather Radio, all you have to do it either plug it in, or put batteries in it.  Then turn it on!  Some of them, will even turn on by themselves when a Weather Watch or Warning is issued to alert you to the changing weather. 

New technology, called S.A.M.E. or Specific Area Message Encoder, will allow you to only program what Parish or County you want the Weather Radio to alert you for!  This way you are prepared for hazardous weather before it strikes. 

Where can I purchase one, and how much are they?
You can typically buy one at a local electronics store such as Radio Shack, Circuit City, or Best Buy.  I have also found them at Target and Wal-Mart.  Here in Baton Rouge, these stores have them year round, but I have found that they get more in for the start of Hurricane Season on June 1st.  You can also do a search on-line and find them there too. 

They can cost anywhere from $15 to $100+ depending on what you want the Weather Radio to do.  The average is about $20-$30. 

For more information on NOAA Weather Radios, click on the links below

• NWS NOAA Weather Radio Official Site: http://www.weather.gov/nwr/

Other Useful Weather Websites:

• NWS NOLA/BR:  http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/
• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/html/nwr.htm
• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/html/nwrinfot.htm
• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/swaw/swaw08.htm
• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/swaw/swaw.php
• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/safety/swaw/index.php
• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/swaw/index.php

Remember always in times of Severe Weather you can turn to News 2 and Cable Channel 18 for complete weather updates!