NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards broadcasts warnings 24 hours a day on seven frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 MHz. A desktop radio with SAME coding sounds an alarm only for the counties you program, even when the radio is silent, and Public Alert-certified models meet a consumer standard for alert reliability. Keep it on battery backup. Hand-crank radios are useful in a kit but many lack automatic alerts.
A weather radio is the cheapest life-safety device you can own. Its job is to wake you when a tornado or flash flood warning is issued.
How it works
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is broadcast by National Weather Service transmitters across the US on seven VHF channels from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz. Warnings include weather and some non-weather hazards.
Features that matter
| Feature | Why |
|---|---|
| SAME county coding | Alerts only for your area, fewer false alarms |
| Alarm tone and display | Wakes you and shows the warning type |
| Battery backup | Works during outages |
| Public Alert certification | Meets the standard for alert receivers |
| External antenna jack | Helps in weak signal areas |
| Accessibility outputs | Strobe or bed shaker for people who are deaf or hard of hearing |
Desktop, portable or crank
| Type | Best for |
|---|---|
| Desktop alert radio | The bedroom or kitchen, always on |
| Portable with alerts | Moving room to room, camping trips |
| Hand-crank, solar and USB | Emergency kits and long outages; may lack SAME |
Many families keep a desktop alert radio at home and a crank radio in the 72-hour kit.
Setup
Find your county’s SAME code and the nearest transmitter frequency on the National Weather Service website, program both, and test the radio on the weekly test day.
For powering radios and devices in long outages, see our power station sizing guide. Browse power, light and comms.
Common questions
What is SAME on a weather radio?
Specific Area Message Encoding lets you program your county so the radio alerts only for warnings that affect you.
Do I need a weather radio if I have a phone?
Yes, as a backup. Weather radios wake you at night and work when cell networks are down.
Do hand-crank radios have weather alerts?
Some do, but many only receive the weather band when you switch them on. Check for alert features.
What does Public Alert certified mean?
The radio meets the consumer electronics standard for alert receivers, including SAME and an alarm.