Your home is probably the place where you feel safest, due in large part to window and door locks, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, security systems, and surveillance cameras. But what good are these protective measures against Mother Nature? To stay informed of incoming storms and natural disasters, you need a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio. Here’s why.

NOAA Radios are Dependable

If you rely on the local news to inform you of weather emergencies, you must have the TV turned on. If you keep an eye on weather apps, your phone must be charged and receive a cell signal. If you visit weather websites from your computer, you must have electricity and an Internet connection.

All of these avenues are vulnerable during severe weather. However, a NOAA radio with a backup battery or hand crank provides instant, automatic, around-the-clock messages regarding weather alerts in your county. There’s no better way to stay up-to-date with the latest advisories, watches and warnings.

NOAA Radios Save Lives

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that during the early morning hours of November 6, 2005, an F-3 tornado tore through a mobile home community near Evansville, Indiana. The twister killed 25 people, many of whom were sleeping and unaware of the danger until it was upon them. A NOAA radio on the bedside table of every mobile home in the community could have prevented many of these deaths.

In fact, after the event, the mother of a 2-year-old victim campaigned to require all new manufactured homes in Indiana to include an NOAA weather radio, treating it as equally vital to resident safety as a smoke detector. This installation can give homeowners as much as eight minutes to move to a safe location. When minutes and seconds can make the difference between life and death, an early warning from a NOAA radio could serve as your family’s best protection.

NOAA Radios Provide a Variety of Alerts

NOAA radios broadcast NWS forecasts as well as announcements from the Emergency Alert System (EAS), including natural disasters, AMBER alerts, terrorist threats, oil spills and other emergencies that could affect your safety. The most critical announcements always come through, but you can customize dozens of selectable alerts that you want your radio to broadcast – or not.

Don’t wait until disaster strikes – invest in a NOAA weather radio today to stay informed 24/7! The alerts you receive could save your life or the life of someone you love. Then, once the disaster has passed, you can return to your home and begin the restoration process.

DKI Services is North America’s largest disaster restoration contracting organization. Our disaster recovery services are designed to minimize damage to your home, lower your repair costs and salvage as many of your belongings as possible. We’ll also work on your behalf to ensure you get the coverage you deserve from your insurance company. To learn more about us, or to request 24-hour emergency services, please contact us today.