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Emergency prep

The alert that works with no power. Set up NOAA Weather Radio.

More than 1,000 transmitters broadcast National Weather Service warnings around the clock. Find your station and county code, then pick a radio that wakes you for alerts.
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Find your station and SAME code

The National Weather Service keeps the only up-to-date list of transmitters and county codes. We link straight to it rather than copy it, so you always get the current frequency.

Pick your state to get the official NWS county and station lists.

Territories and the full list: NWS station listing (opens in a new tab) · NWS county listing (opens in a new tab). Prefer the phone? Call 1-888-NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263).

What NOAA Weather Radio is

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is the National Weather Service's own broadcast network. More than 1,000 transmitters cover all 50 states, coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the US Pacific Territories. It carries warnings, watches and forecasts 24 hours a day, plus non-weather emergencies such as chemical releases and AMBER alerts.

It uses seven frequencies. NWS says you need a special receiver or scanner to pick them up.

  • 162.400 MHz
  • 162.425 MHz
  • 162.450 MHz
  • 162.475 MHz
  • 162.500 MHz
  • 162.525 MHz
  • 162.550 MHz

SAME codes, in plain English

A plain weather radio sounds for every alert its transmitter sends, which can cover many counties. A SAME radio lets you enter your county's 6-digit code so it sounds only for warnings that include you.

  • First digit: 0 for the whole county; another number for part of a county.
  • Next two digits: your state or territory.
  • Last three digits: your county, parish or independent city.
NWS warns: do not program a louder or clearer station unless it is designated for your county, or you may miss alerts. Program the station the county list gives you.

What to look for in a radio

  • Public Alert or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards logo. NWS recommends it. The Public Alert standard (CTA-2009) requires the tone alarm, SAME and battery backup below.
  • Tone alarm. NWS sends a 1050 Hz tone before most warnings and many watches; it sets off the alarm even with the volume off.
  • SAME. So it sounds only for your county.
  • Battery backup. NWS calls it crucial during power outages.
  • Optional: an external antenna jack for weak signals, or a jack for strobe lights and bed shakers.

A hand-crank radio is a good second radio for an outage, but many lack SAME and the Public Alert logo, so they cannot wake you for a warning in your county only. Ready.gov's kit list has both: a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.

Midland WR120 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio

Tabletop alert radio for the bedroom or kitchen

Maker lists it as Public Alert Certified, with S.A.M.E. county programming (25 locations) and 3 AA batteries as backup power.

  • Batteries not included.

See it at Midland (opens in a new tab) · Claim read on the maker's page on October 26, 2026

Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio

Portable radio you can charge by hand crank or solar

Maker lists NOAA Weather Radio with alert, plus hand crank, solar panel and a rechargeable battery.

  • The maker's page does not mention SAME or Public Alert certification, so it cannot be set to your county alone.
  • The page gives two different battery capacities.

See it at Midland (opens in a new tab) · Claim read on the maker's page on October 26, 2026

Eton (opens in a new tab)also makes hand-crank NOAA radios. Check a model's page for SAME and the Public Alert logo before you buy.

Put the radio on your emergency kit checklist, and keep spare batteries for it.

Frequently asked questions

What frequency is NOAA Weather Radio?

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on seven frequencies: 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525 and 162.550 MHz. Which one you need depends on your nearest transmitter; the National Weather Service lists them by state and by county.

What is a SAME code?

SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) is a 6-digit code for your county. Program it into a SAME radio and it sounds an alert only for the areas you choose. A first digit of 0 means the whole county; the next two digits are the state and the last three the county. Look yours up on the NWS county list, or call 1-888-NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263).

Do I need a special radio for NOAA weather alerts?

Yes. The National Weather Service says NOAA Weather Radio needs a special receiver or scanner that can pick up the signal. Ready.gov lists a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert in its basic emergency kit.

What should I look for in a weather radio?

The National Weather Service recommends the Public Alert or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards logo, a tone alarm that sounds even with the volume off, SAME county programming, and battery backup for power cuts. Some radios also have an external antenna jack or a jack for strobe lights or bed shakers.

Does NOAA Weather Radio cover more than weather?

Yes. It is an all-hazards network: alongside National Weather Service warnings, watches and forecasts, it carries non-weather emergencies such as earthquakes, chemical releases and AMBER alerts, 24 hours a day.

Station and county details change. Always use the current National Weather Service lists linked above. See our disclaimer.

Sources

  1. National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards — more than 1000 transmitters; coverage; all-hazards broadcasts; seven frequencies
  2. NWS, NOAA Weather Radio station listing by state — transmitters by state
  3. NWS, NOAA Weather Radio county coverage and SAME codes — SAME codes and stations by county
  4. NWS, Using SAME — 6-digit code structure; 1-888-NWR-SAME; programming advice
  5. NWS, NOAA Weather Radio receiver information — Public Alert (CTA-2009-C), 1050 Hz tone, SAME, battery backup, accessory jacks
  6. Ready.gov, Build a Kit — battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
  7. Midland WR120 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio product page — checked October 26, 2026
  8. Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio product page — checked October 26, 2026

Keep going

Photo: Devon MacKay on Unsplash (Unsplash License).