Emergency Severe Weather Notifications

[cmcdar]

Spent six hours plus last night in Severe Thunderstorms and Tornado Watches and Warnings.

The thing that troubles me the most is - the LACK of notification. We did get notified by one of the Campground Hosts.

Last year, this exact time, my cell phone blared out and alarm and then an audible announcement. We knew of the Tornado Watch hours before the camp host came by.

I did get a notice regarding the thunderstorms BUT no such notice of the Tornado Watch.

I know I can purchase a stationary Weather Radio and I still might BUT I am traveling out of state and it is difficult to find out current county location and re-program the radio everytime we stop.

I have an android phone and I have spent hours searching thru Google Play for apps but all seemed to require constant data/internet connection.

I do have WEA enabled on my phone but I am troubled that I was NOT NOTIFIED regarding the Tornado Watch then Tornado Warning.

Anyone found a solution?

[SCVJeff]

That sound is not meant to get your attention. Those are called "rat f@rts" , and yes that's turned into its technical term in the "biz". It's actually known as BOM & EOM (Beginning and End of Message). That data contains the type of alert to display on a real weather radio as well as TV, Radio, cellular, etc. to decode and display on the TV screen or smartphone what the alert really is. The attention getter is meant to be the ~5sec tone following the data burst. iF everything works properly, this EAS message relays itself all over the area, BUT... stations have the option to NOT pass on the message as well and there is no set rule, even stations in the same market in the middle of Tornado Alley. That's why one needs a Wx radio to listen to the source.

[Chuck_thehammer]

any nice police scanner will also scan all weather channels... and they being in the VHF range... you will only received local channels...and LOCAL weather information.

mine is about 5 years old.. even has the BAD sounding Noise (ALERT) to get your attention

[Crabbypatty]

The weather radios have only a couple of frequencies, so you dont have to reprogram. Just flip the channel until you get a signal. I travel as well with one after getting caught in a lightning storm of epic proportions. They work on batteries. Just google it. As far as tornado warnings sometimes they only pop up as severe thunderstorms, which they are. If the weather folks dont see a turn they wont issue. Its not perfect. Any severe thunderstorm warning is something to pay attention to.

Yes its very scary especially when your in a straw house like an rv..

Happy Trails

[SCVJeff]

I'm really not sure where the issue is here? You have listed all the things you have and how prepaired you are, and that's obviously a good thing. But then you complain you were not notified.... by who... NWS? Why is it with all your prep gear you do not have a $30 weather radio? If you want notification directly from the source, buy a weather radio... period.

I was on an advisory council to the FCC for several years helping develop rules, regs, and future technologies for public EAS alerts, and I can tell for for a fact that as hard as we all try, that budgets, staffing and technology all play a part in the EAS hierarchy breaking down at some point, and more often than one might think nationwide. Maybe one day the entire distribution will be 100% reliable, but it's not, as hard as some of us try. So again, who do you expect to be notified by without the proper first line alerting equipment is beyond me. Is NWS VHF continuous coverage across the US? no, but it's pretty darn good. Spend the $30 and buy a Wx Rx

[NYCgrrl]

cmcdar wrote:

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Radio is nice and so is looking at the sky......Good luck.

When the lights went out you could not see your hand in front of your face.

CAMPING IN WOODS AT NIGHT - You look at the sky, it is your right.

Five people were killed in that storm. Four of them were sleeping and a tree fell on their house.

I just don't get why some people have to be so cantankerous.

I don't know why you think this post was cantankerous; you look at the sky before the sun goes down (just like our ancestors did), view/listen to whatever media is available and make decisions accordingly.

People most always die during weather events due to various judgements.

[cmcdar]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Radio is nice and so is looking at the sky......Good luck.

When the lights went out you could not see your hand in front of your face.

CAMPING IN WOODS AT NIGHT - You look at the sky, it is your right.

Five people were killed in that storm. Four of them were sleeping and a tree fell on their house.

I just don't get why some people have to be so cantankerous.

[coolbreeze01]

Radio is nice and so is looking at the sky......Good luck.

[cmcdar]

RoyB wrote:
Type in WX RADIO AMAZON on-line Google search.... many to pick from...

Even my Radio Shack model was there last time I looked... Midland Brand seems to be very popular models...

SEARS sells the hand held Midland shown in above above that has the READOUT for events. I like that idea...

Midland HH54VP Portable Emergency Weather Radio with SAME (Black) $54

Roy Ken

I had that old Radio Shack model and really liked it. When it died, I tried to replace it and the 'replacement' did not last long. I have also owned a midland.

I will resort to the old 'progamming ever time I stop' BUT for crying out loud, you would think technology would have moved ahead in this department.

I am on my kindle everyday, while on the road, at not time have I EVER seen NOAA declare a Tornado watch or warning days in adnvance.

I think that if I have several devices and programs set up, next time there is an alert, somehow I will get it.

Ha Ha - Thanks all.

[cmcdar]

jshupe wrote:
I mentioned earlier in the thread that we use a BCD536HP scanner, BCD436HP is the handheld version. They're more expensive, but in addition to NOAA weather you can listen to local Police, Fire, EMS, and other emergency services and have a much better idea of what is going on when bad weather (and other events) hits. They use an onboard zipcode database or GPS (purchased separately, what we use) to zone in on your local area.

Wow, I would really love that Radio. I'm afraid it is more than I can spend right now.

Thanks!

[cmcdar]

PhilandJoyce wrote:
Knowing we'd be "out there" pretty often, I found and purchased THIS model, not only because of it's multiple radio bands AND weather channels, but because of it's 3-way charging capabilities.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OJZOOLI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has come in handy quite a few times; the last being informed of a high-wind advisory, that allowed us to stow everything away, including the awning. Other campers weren't quite as lucky, as we saw numerous torn awnings and scattered belongings throughout the campground.

I'm very interested in this radio. You leave it plugged in and running all the time? The weather alert system will run in the background and alert you even if you are not 'listening' to a radio station?

I most likely would use it for nothing more than an alert/ warning device and occassional NOAA broadcast.

Once "ALERTED", I would monitor weather and radar maps on my phone.

Thanks PhilandJoyce.

[johnhicks]

There are all of seven NOAA weather radio channels. You could perhaps listen to the radio hours or even days earlier to learn what's coming your way. You need to be proactive, not grouse about not being notified.

The Wunderground app is useful, along with RadarNow and others. But you have to have a data connection to receive data.

Here's the radio info http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/

I use a Reecom R-1650.

[Bucky_Badger]

cmcdar wrote:




I know I can purchase a stationary Weather Radio and I still might BUT I am traveling out of state and it is difficult to find out current county location and re-program the radio everytime we stop.



Anyone found a solution?

I always ask at check in what county are we in so I can program my radio

[dewey02]

PhilandJoyce wrote:
Knowing we'd be "out there" pretty often, I found and purchased THIS model, not only because of it's multiple radio bands AND weather channels, but because of it's 3-way charging capabilities.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OJZOOLI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has come in handy quite a few times; the last being informed of a high-wind advisory, that allowed us to stow everything away, including the awning. Other campers weren't quite as lucky, as we saw numerous torn awnings and scattered belongings throughout the campground.

Clicky

[n0arp]

I mentioned earlier in the thread that we use a BCD536HP scanner, BCD436HP is the handheld version. They're more expensive, but in addition to NOAA weather you can listen to local Police, Fire, EMS, and other emergency services and have a much better idea of what is going on when bad weather (and other events) hits. They use an onboard zipcode database or GPS (purchased separately, what we use) to zone in on your local area.

[PhilandJoyce]

Knowing we'd be "out there" pretty often, I found and purchased THIS model, not only because of it's multiple radio bands AND weather channels, but because of it's 3-way charging capabilities.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OJZOOLI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has come in handy quite a few times; the last being informed of a high-wind advisory, that allowed us to stow everything away, including the awning. Other campers weren't quite as lucky, as we saw numerous torn awnings and scattered belongings throughout the campground.