NOAA Weather Radio: how to set one up and find your station

The short answer

A NOAA Weather Radio is a small radio that plays official weather and hazard alerts from the National Weather Service, and can sound an alarm when a warning is issued for your county. It does not need Wi-Fi or cell service. Setting it up takes about 20 minutes, and most of that is entering a code.

Why have one?

Phone alerts can fail when towers are down or when you are asleep with the phone on silent. The National Weather Service says NOAA Weather Radio has more than 1,000 transmitters covering all 50 states, coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Pacific territories. It works with the FCC's Emergency Alert System.

Step 1: Find your frequency and SAME code

The NWS publishes the NWR county listing. Choose your state and you will see each county with its SAME code and the transmitter frequency.

Write both down. The seven frequencies, all in MHz, are 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525 and 162.550.

You can also use the Station Search ("Find My Station") tool if you want to see which transmitter is nearest.

Step 2: What SAME means

SAME is short for "Specific Area Message Encoding." Each county has a six-digit code. If you enter your county's code, the radio only wakes you for warnings that affect your county. If you leave it on "all," it may sound for alerts across a wide area, which can lead people to switch it off.

The NWS has a SAME explanation page and a full code list if you want the details.

Step 3: Power it several ways

A good emergency radio can run three ways:

• Batteries: Fresh AA or AAA alkaline cells are the most reliable. Keep spares.
• Hand crank: A minute of cranking gives you a few minutes of listening, which is good for emergencies.
• Solar panel: Leave it in a window in daylight.
• USB: Some models charge a phone a little, but do not count on it for much.

Check the batteries when you change your clocks in spring and fall.

Step 4: Program and tune

Every radio's buttons are a little different, so keep the manual. The general steps:

1. Install batteries or plug in the power.
2. Press Weather (or WX) to select the weather band.
3. Select your channel, or press scan to find the strongest.
4. Open the SAME menu and enter your six-digit county code.
5. Turn Alert on. Many radios stay silent until an alert comes, then play a loud tone.

Step 5: Test it

Many models have a "test" or "alert" button. Press it and listen for the alert. NWS stations also send routine test alerts on a schedule, so check your local office's schedule if you want to confirm the radio responds to a real signal.

If you hear a lot of static, move the radio near a window, extend the antenna, or move it a few feet. Reception problems are common in valleys and in the middle of buildings. The NWS has a reception problems page for tips.

Step 6: Where to keep it

• Near your bed, so you hear a night warning.
• Plugged in or with batteries, not left in a drawer.
• With a note on it showing your county's code and frequency.

During a blackout, listen for a few minutes each hour rather than leaving it on all day, to save the batteries. If a warning sounds, follow the instructions, then check on neighbors who are alone.

What the alert will tell you

A watch means conditions are right for a hazard. A warning means it is happening or about to. The radio's message will say what it is, where, and what to do. If it says take shelter, go now and listen again after.

Next steps

• Write a plan for your family: family emergency plan.
• Plan the first days: the 72-hour blackout plan.
• Keep warm if the power stays out: stay warm without power.
• See the Blackout Kit.