How Will You Get Emergency Information If Your Phone Is Not Working?

Emergency communication is not only about talking to another person. It is also about receiving reliable warnings and instructions when your normal phone-based sources are unavailable.

Why a second information source matters

Phones are convenient because alerts, weather apps, news, maps, and messages all arrive on one device. That convenience can become a weakness if cellular service, internet access, or power is interrupted.

A separate emergency-information source gives your household another way to learn what is happening without depending on the same system as your phone.

What NOAA Weather Radio provides

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a nationwide network operated by the National Weather Service. It broadcasts official warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In coordination with public officials, it can also carry information about non-weather hazards.

Features that can make a weather radio more useful

• Battery backup: lets the radio continue operating when household power is unavailable.
• Tone alert: can sound an alarm when a warning is issued.
• SAME capability: allows compatible radios to be programmed for specific geographic areas.
• Portable power options: can help when an outage lasts longer than expected.

Know your local coverage before an emergency

Weather-radio reception depends on transmitter coverage, terrain, distance, and local conditions. Do not wait for severe weather to discover whether your radio receives the local station clearly. Test it where you plan to use it and learn how its alert features work.

Add local information sources to your plan

Write down local emergency-management contacts, local broadcast stations, and any community notification systems available where you live. If one source is unavailable, you will already know where else to look or listen.