Homeland Security joins weather radio network

[PfcHammer]

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2004-06-17-dhs-noaaradio_x.htm

Homeland Security joins weather radio network

WASHINGTON (AP) — Emergency alerts for everything from tornadoes to missing children and terror warnings will get out to the public through an expanded weather radio network, the government announced Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's network already makes emergency weather warnings available to 97% of the country and has added alerts for missing children and other hazards in recent years. (Related: More on NOAA weather radio)

The addition of the Homeland Security Department to the system will allow terror alerts and warnings to be distributed automatically through the same way.

"This agreement is an example of interagency cooperation that ... can be applied to protect the homeland from both man-made and natural disasters," said Frank Libutti, undersecretary for information analysis and infrastructure protection at Homeland Security.

[liveoaktx]

1. Crap! I USE that weather radio-the last thing I want to get is a bunch

of bogus *terror* alerts interspersed with thunderstorm warnings. Hope there's a way to ONLY get the RED and block out the other Bushola propaganda.

[eyesroll]

2. We have a SAME radio -- does this mean a terralert

will wake us up in the middle of the night like a tornado warning does?

Will an Amber Alert? (Don't get me wrong -- I appreciate Amber Alerts. But there's nothing I can do to "be on the lookout" at 2 a.m.) I hope I can shut those off.

[Jokerman]

3. Another reason to leave it unplugged.

I bought a weather radio a couple of years ago but its in a closet gathering dust.

We got tired of waking up in the middle of the night to warnings for counties half a state away.

If they could narrow the warnings down to more specific areas it would be much more useful. Now its just the boy who cried wolf too many times.

[blackcat77]

5. Most radios let you pick only the warnings you want...

...and only for the counties you want. When I first got mine, I thought it would be a good idea to include several counties surrounding our's but that had it going off all the time. Now I have it just set for tornado watches and warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings for our county alone. That way I get what I need and no junk. No flood warnings or tidal waves or volcanic activity... :)

[Dover]

4. ..And today's weather is partly orange, overcast with unsubstantiated

fearmongering, but clearing off as soon as the hot Rovian winds shift our attentions from the Hill. We will be caught in this stagnant pattern until November brings us refreshing new reign.