MOLINE, Ill. — We're well into our summer storm season here in the Quad Cities and while we haven't had to deal with severe weather for a number of weeks, it should still be top of mind as we go through the next several months. Being prepared is the easiest way to lower storm anxiety and make sure you are safe.
Like putting together a first aid kit there are many items you should have bundled together and ready to go in the event of an emergency. One of those things though, should remain outside that kit at all times and that is a weather radio. Kim from Erie, Illinois asks,
Where do you buy weather radios?
There are surprisingly a number of places you can buy reliable weather radios. Whether it's online retailers like Amazon, or at a brick-and-mortar home improvement store, all of these locations should have some selection of weather radios to choose from. Midland is the most prominent manufacturer of weather radios, with a few models to choose from.
Their most popular model, the WR120 NOAA Weather Radio is the one you'll likely find in stock at most stores. You can even purchase hand crank models that would really come in handy for extended power outages. Most models come standard with a battery backup option.
In addition to the battery option, you can also attach a strobe light to select models which is an excellent idea for folks who are hearing impaired.
When it comes to programming your weather radio, the U.S. National Weather Service has a handy listing of all our local frequencies, here.
In addition to providing severe weather information, NOAA weather radios will also communicate other emergency messages, including civil emergency alerts, terrorist threat information, and other national emergency matters.
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