Essentials
Why Every Home Needs a NOAA Weather Radio
How NOAA Weather Radio works, why it beats your phone in a disaster, and which radio to buy.
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Quick answer
NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts National Weather Service warnings 24 hours a day from a nationwide network of transmitters. A hand-crank or battery model keeps working when power, cell service and internet fail. For your bedside, a SAME-equipped alert radio wakes you only for warnings in your county.
What NOAA Weather Radio is
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a network of radio stations run by the National Weather Service. It broadcasts forecasts and warnings around the clock, and also carries alerts for non-weather emergencies such as chemical releases and AMBER Alerts.
Why not just use your phone?
Phone alerts are valuable, but cell towers can lose power or become overloaded during disasters, and phones die. A battery or hand-crank radio doesn't depend on the cell network or your home's power.
Two kinds of radio to own
A desktop alert radio stays plugged in with battery backup. Models with SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) let you program your county so the alarm sounds only for warnings that affect you, including tornado warnings in the middle of the night.
A portable emergency radio goes in your go-bag. Look for NOAA weather bands, hand-crank and solar charging, a built-in flashlight and a USB port that can top up a phone.
Setting it up
- Find your local NOAA Weather Radio frequency on the National Weather Service website.
- For a SAME radio, enter your county's six-digit SAME code.
- Put fresh batteries in for backup, and test the radio monthly.
Know the difference: watch vs. warning
A watch means conditions are favorable for a hazard, so be prepared. A warning means the hazard is happening or about to, so take action now.
Our picks
Products we'd consider for our own kits, chosen for reputation and fit. We don't accept payment for placement. Prices and availability are set by Amazon sellers and change often.
- Best for: Bedside alertsView on Amazon: Midland WR120B Weather Alert Radio (opens in a new tab)
Midland WR120B Weather Alert Radio
A popular SAME alert radio that sounds an alarm only for warnings in your programmed county.
- Best for: Go-bag radioView on Amazon: Midland ER310 Emergency Radio (opens in a new tab)
Midland ER310 Emergency Radio
Hand-crank and solar NOAA radio with flashlight and USB charging.
- Best for: Multiple power optionsView on Amazon: Kaito KA500 5-Way Radio (opens in a new tab)
Kaito KA500 5-Way Radio
Can be powered by crank, solar, batteries, USB or AC, with NOAA weather bands.
- Best for: Budget pickView on Amazon: FosPower Emergency Hand Crank Radio (opens in a new tab)
FosPower Emergency Hand Crank Radio
An affordable crank and solar radio with NOAA bands, light and phone charging.
Build your personalized kit
Get suggested quantities for your household, pets and local hazards in about two minutes.
Open the Bunker Kit BuilderOfficial sources
- National Weather Service: NOAA Weather Radio (opens in a new tab)
- Ready.gov: Alerts (opens in a new tab)
- Ready.gov: Build a Kit (opens in a new tab)
This guide is general information based on public guidance from the agencies above. It is not medical or professional advice, and The Blackout Bunker is not affiliated with any government agency. Always follow instructions from local officials.
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