Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Online Weather Alerts
Select which government agency, organization or private company you'd like to provide your weather alerts. Different options include the National Weather Service, The Weather Channel and various location TV news stations. All sources give the same information, as alerts are issued by the National Weather Service alone. This selection is simply a matter of preference and convenience.
Log on to that organization's website, and search for "weather alerts." Doing so will direct you to the appropriate page. Different websites have different step-by-step directions for setting up weather alerts.
Decide for what area you'd like to receive weather alerts. These websites allow users to select the state in which they live, their county or their individual community. The smaller an area you choose, the more likely you are to receive alerts that only pertain to your immediate area.
Decide which type of weather alerts you'd like to receive. You can modify your settings for different weather situations. For example, you can choose to only receive alerts for weather warnings, not watches, or tornadoes, not severe thunderstorms.
Choose how you'd like to receive your weather alerts. You can have a website send the alert to your email, your home computer or a cell phone.
Weather Radio Alerts
Purchase a NOAA weather radio from an electronics store. NOAA stands for "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration." Its weather alerts are a free public service for anyone who owns a weather radio.
Choose a radio that is right for you. Some models combine multiple functions into one unit--for example, an alarm clock that is also a weather radio.
Ensure you have the correct size batteries for your weather radio. Different weather radios require different sizes of batteries. Common sizes for most weather radios are AA or AAA.
Insert the batteries into the weather radio. Although most weather radios come with an AC adapter, this power supply will not work in the event of a power outage.
Select your settings for location, type of alert and method of delivery. You can select these settings directly on your weather radio. See your model's instruction manual, as setting options differ between brands.
Test your unit to make sure it works. Most units come with buttons that allow you to test the type of alarm and the volume of the alarm. Press that button, making sure that the style and volume of the alarm are loud enough to grab your attention in case of emergency.