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What is a NOAA Weather Radio?
The NOAA weather radio provides you with warning information from the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies.
Many of these weather radios operate on battery power, making them invaluable during power outages. The radios provide forecast updates and alerts during severe weather events. When there are no serious weather threats, they share local weather updates and climate information.
Thanks to the Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E.) technology, the radio only notifies you of alerts within your designated county.
Ways to Receive Alerts and Warnings
A key element of being prepared is having various methods to receive alerts. AM/FM radio and television stations broadcast tone alerts for emergency weather situations. Most modern smartphones can receive specific weather alerts through Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs).
Where to Get NOAA Weather Radios
NOAA Weather Radio units are available through several sources.
- Retail Stores: Electronics, outdoor/camping, and general retailers often carry NOAA Weather Radio units.
- Online Vendors: Numerous online stores and retailers offer a variety of radio models.
- Local Resources: Check with your local National Weather Service (NWS) office for guidance on recommended models or radio capabilities.
- Community Programs: Grant and other community funding opportunities may be available in the future to help distribute weather radios through local organizations or emergency management programs. The City of Raleigh received grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation in 2025 for community weather radio distribution. If future distribution opportunities come available for the City, information will be available on the City's website.
